Duckling born with leg issue? Help!!!

[talkhorsesducks]

Hi everyone! My little black duckling Athena had a very difficult hatch, she was an assisted hatch and in the leg over head mal position. She now walks with a limp one leg is turned in and the joint feels all wonky. Is there anything I can do to help her!!!? Please help I’m attached to her and don’t want anything to happen to her.
Video:

 

[ali04]

here is a forum with a similar problem https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duckling-with-a-leg-foot-problem.314471/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/call-duckling-with-bad-legs.393494/
https://permies.com/t/139323/correct-pigeon-toed-duck

I have a duck i got from a farm who's one leg is pigeon toed but not as that bad he is fine and loving life has a bit of a funny waddle a have a few forums with video of how he waddles. I am not sure at what age they can have niacin since their food is supposed to be high in it but you could give him small amounts because i know pigeon toed is a sign of that but hopefully these other forums help and wish you the best.

 

[talkhorsesducks]

here is a forum with a similar problem https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duckling-with-a-leg-foot-problem.314471/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/call-duckling-with-bad-legs.393494/
https://permies.com/t/139323/correct-pigeon-toed-duck

I have a duck i got from a farm who's one leg is pigeon toed but not as that bad he is fine and loving life has a bit of a funny waddle a have a few forums with video of how he waddles. I am not sure at what age they can have niacin since their food is supposed to be high in it but you could give him small amounts because i know pigeon toed is a sign of that but hopefully these other forums help and wish you the best.

Thank you so much for the reply. I appreciate it! My little duck seems happy! She runs and walks fine it’s just her leg looks weird and she limps a bit. I’m getting some niacin tablets and hopefully it might get better as she ages!

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Thank you so much for the reply. I appreciate it! My little duck seems happy! She runs and walks fine it’s just her leg looks weird and she limps a bit. I’m getting some niacin tablets and hopefully it might get better as she ages!

You could try to make a splint for her, to get her foot in the right position again! I had wonderful results with it before

 

[talkhorsesducks]

You could try to make a splint for her, to get her foot in the right position again! I had wonderful results with it before

Thank you! I’ll see what I can do!

 

[Miss Lydia]

You could try to make a splint for her, to get her foot in the right position again! I had wonderful results with it before

Explain how you go about making a splint and putting it on please.

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Explain how you go about making a splint and putting it on please.

Of course @Miss Lydia

first day I only look at the curled toes as they are newly hatched and I don't want them to stress to much: (so I leave the inwards turned feet for what it is for this day)

After that,
From cardboard I cut a piece in the shape of how the foot should be (you can use the other foot as reference). I make sure the toenails are outside because they tend to tumble over very easily as it is already and that way they tend to be a tiny bit more stable.

2nd stage, you can do by yourself but an extra hand might come in handy.
Cut a few longer pieces of tape/band aid, and after you position the foot correctly you tape it to the cardboard using the long pieces of band aid (or similar).

I made you a picture of how I do it and which gave me good results. There are many more ways of course

I also make sure the foot is not in a 90 degree angle, but few degrees more, so a tiny bit if it walks on it's toes, not to much.
Because I had an experience with a duckling who developed a huge callus when taped in 90 degrees position.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you so much really helps us to have a visual . I bookmarked it.

What are Giethoorn's?

 

[talkhorsesducks]

Of course @Miss Lydia

first day I only look at the curled toes as they are newly hatched and I don't want them to stress to much: (so I leave the inwards turned feet for what it is for this day)
View attachment 3069537

After that,
From cardboard I cut a piece in the shape of how the foot should be (you can use the other foot as reference). I make sure the toenails are outside because they tend to tumble over very easily as it is already and that way they tend to be a tiny bit more stable.

2nd stage, you can do by yourself but an extra hand might come in handy.
Cut a few longer pieces of tape/band aid, and after you position the foot correctly you tape it to the cardboard using the long pieces of band aid (or similar).

I made you a picture of how I do it and which gave me good results. There are many more ways of course
View attachment 3069539
I also make sure the foot is not in a 90 degree angle, but few degrees more, so a tiny bit if it walks on it's toes, not to much.
Because I had an experience with a duckling who developed a huge callus when taped in 90 degrees position.

Thank you for this!!!!

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Thank you so much really helps us to have a visual . I bookmarked it.

What are Giethoorn's?

A bit of topic, sorry original poster

It's a duck breed which originates from a little town in Holland called Giethoorn. They are not in any show standard (yet) and quite rare. I call them my prototype ducks since they are not in a standard. They were bred with the idea of creating a bantam Eend van Vorst (forest duck) which you can see in this video (at 1:42 you see the white ones)