Duckling Diaries: the Life and Times of a Welshie Trio

[BantyChooks]

So....

I don't know what to do now.

I was in the coop, and I heard Chrissy start screaming and flapping in the run. I ran out the door, and she was panicking and hop-tripping towards me. Her leg seemed floppy. I got her calmed down, but when I run my fingers along the thigh, I can feel what I believe is a break far up. No idea what made it happen, she was just sitting there. I am wondering if she snapped it when she climbed out of the pool sometime today, but as I wasn't out, didn't hear her and it just hurt her again when she moved to come towards me.
I can't splint it, seeing as it is so far up.

I don't know how long this can keep going before it's cruel to keep her alive. She still hadn't been putting weight on the stump even before this, and now...

 

[Tevyes Dad]

So....

I don't know what to do now.

I was in the coop, and I heard Chrissy start screaming and flapping in the run. I ran out the door, and she was panicking and hop-tripping towards me. Her leg seemed floppy. I got her calmed down, but when I run my fingers along the thigh, I can feel what I believe is a break far up. No idea what made it happen, she was just sitting there. I am wondering if she snapped it when she climbed out of the pool sometime today, but as I wasn't out, didn't hear her and it just hurt her again when she moved to come towards me.
I can't splint it, seeing as it is so far up.

I don't know how long this can keep going before it's cruel to keep her alive. She still hadn't been putting weight on the stump even before this, and now...

I'm so sorry Banty... Can you get it x-rayed or are you that sure it's a break. I would think that if it could be set that you could immobilize the leg against the body just long enough to start stitching the bone (maybe 2 weeks) then put her in a small confinement area where she can not move much for maybe another 2. I'm no doctor so I'm sure my guesses need a lot of tweaking by someone who knows better, but my biggest concern would be how it happened. Ducks are made to take fairly rough landings every day so minor trips shouldn't break the bone. I'm wondering about calcium deficiency (is she laying) or other issues. Ultimately you have to make the call though. When Snow died, I could see that Noir was devastated by it, because I KNEW her. It took Noir about 6 months before she could be happy again. Anyone else would have seen a cute black runner. You know Chrissy. You know when she's happy to live and when it is a burden. You are the only one qualified to make that call and the only one who has to live with it. I've gotten to know you a bit on this forum and know without a doubt that when you have all the information those here can provide, you will make the right choice for Chrissy.

 

[BantyChooks]

I'm so sorry Banty... Can you get it x-rayed or are you that sure it's a break.  I would think that if it could be set that you could immobilize the leg against the body just long enough to start stitching the bone (maybe 2 weeks) then put her in a small confinement area where she can not move much for maybe another 2.  I'm no doctor so I'm sure my guesses need a lot of tweaking by someone who knows better, but my biggest concern would be how it happened.  Ducks are made to take fairly rough landings every day so minor trips shouldn't break the bone.  I'm wondering about calcium deficiency (is she laying) or other issues.  Ultimately you have to make the call though.  When Snow died, I could see that Noir was devastated by it, because I KNEW her.  It took Noir about 6 months before she could be happy again.  Anyone else would have seen a cute black runner.  You know Chrissy.  You know when she's happy to live and when it is a burden.  You are the only one qualified to make that call and the only one who has to live with it.  I've gotten to know you a bit on this forum and know without a doubt that when you have all the information those here can provide, you will make the right choice for Chrissy.

Symptoms seem exactly like other breaks I've dealt with. Can't afford x-ray.

What I suspect is that the tumble she took a month or two ago did in fact fracture it, and maybe the strain was too much? I really don't know, I'm grasping at ideas.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

 

[BantyChooks]

Meant to add. She is on layer feed. I'm getting an egg near every day from her.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Symptoms seem exactly like other breaks I've dealt with. Can't afford x-ray.

What I suspect is that the tumble she took a month or two ago did in fact fracture it, and maybe the strain was too much? I really don't know, I'm grasping at ideas.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

That would make sense if she had a hairline fracture already from the tumble or even the attack and did something that finished the job, it might not take much.

Also, that might mean it has already "healed" and may be less likely to stitch together

I hope someone can give you something concrete (other than Ralphie who would just use the concrete to make shoes.)

 

[BantyChooks]

That would make sense if she had a hairline fracture already from the tumble or even the attack and did something that finished the job, it might not take much.   Also, that might mean it has already "healed" and may be less likely to stitch together

I hope someone can give you something concrete (other than Ralphie who would just use the concrete to make shoes.)

Thank you for making me smile.

Based off of what Ravyn said and research on ducks with broken legs, it's either splint, surgery, or euthanise. Surgery is no, and euthanising is a no if I have anything to say about it, so we're left with splinting. Nothing beats a try, except a failure, so we'll hope I can get a splint to stay put. Guess miss Chrissy is coming back inside.

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you for making me smile.

Based off of what Ravyn said and research on ducks with broken legs, it's either splint, surgery, or euthanise. Surgery is no, and euthanising is a no if I have anything to say about it, so we're left with splinting. Nothing beats a try, except a failure, so we'll hope I can get a splint to stay put. Guess miss Chrissy is coming back inside.

 

[Debs Flock]

Thank you for making me smile.

Based off of what Ravyn said and research on ducks with broken legs, it's either splint, surgery, or euthanise. Surgery is no, and euthanising is a no if I have anything to say about it, so we're left with splinting. Nothing beats a try, except a failure, so we'll hope I can get a splint to stay put. Guess miss Chrissy is coming back inside.

Chrissy is one tough birb & you're a good mama. Hope she heals well.

 

[BantyChooks]

She's hopping around, eating, and drinking. Definitely much more careful of the stub though. Poor girl.

 

[BYC910]

She's hopping around, eating, and drinking. Definitely much more careful of the stub though. Poor girl.

sorry for you and her Banti. Just a thought didn't you have her in a sling of sorts before ? Keeping her in water will keep the weight off the leg . There is a tape I can't remember what it's called. It is very much like a cast material wet it and it gets hard .One of those things that was showed on the Shark tank . I know I saw it at Home depot once . If you can find it you may be able to fashion a cast for the leg . If you can keep it immobile long enough it will mend .