We have a duckling that zipped cleanly on its own, but 8 hrs later still hadn't gotten out (and was mad!) so I easily pulled the top of the egg off and out he then came on his own. But right away I could see why he had trouble - his right leg was straight out behind him, with foot sort of twisted in and curled up and under. So what to do? It isn't splayed leg - it isn't to the side.
He got a little swim therapy this AM, and he seemed to like that ok. He's already had some Nutridrench. And he does show some improvement already. Now he can sort of stand if I hold the foot/leg under him - which is better than hours ago. Bracing like that for splayed legs just made it worse so quickly stopped that. I'm debating some sort of duckling chair to hold him up (like at https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces ), but wonder if he's better off being able to keep trying to move/use it. There seems to be conflicting advice on this thread that seemed most relevant: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-please-duckling-born-with-twisted-leg.392157/page-4
Thoughts?
He got a little swim therapy this AM, and he seemed to like that ok. He's already had some Nutridrench. And he does show some improvement already. Now he can sort of stand if I hold the foot/leg under him - which is better than hours ago. Bracing like that for splayed legs just made it worse so quickly stopped that. I'm debating some sort of duckling chair to hold him up (like at https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces ), but wonder if he's better off being able to keep trying to move/use it. There seems to be conflicting advice on this thread that seemed most relevant: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-please-duckling-born-with-twisted-leg.392157/page-4
Thoughts?
