Duckling Leg Issue....NEED HELP

[KATIE HAWKINS]

I am brand new to duck breeding, and I had 8 ducklings hatch yesterday. They are with their mom in a safe duckling area in my barn with a brooding area set up. I have one duckling that I just removed because it was getting trampled and looked in bad shape. It's leg is bent up to it's body and can't seem to walk on it. It just scoots around and isn't eating or thriving like the others. I've taken pictures of his leg. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! I want to save this sweet duckling!

 

[Debs Flock]

Hello & welcome to BYC!

I just saw something similar to this within the last week or so. If you do a search, maybe use "lame" as a search word. All I remember is water therapy being a big help. Place the duckling is some warm water (not hot) that she/he can float in. Let her/him float around for 10-15 minutes a few times each day. (Dry off so she/he doesn't get chilled.) Do not leave unsupervised. Ducklings can quickly become waterlogged since they don't yet have feathers.

I'll tag some other members that have lots more experience. I bet someone will have more things to do that will help.

@casportpony
@Ravynscroft
@WVduckchick
@Miss Lydia
@Pyxis

 

[casportpony]

I am brand new to duck breeding, and I had 8 ducklings hatch yesterday. They are with their mom in a safe duckling area in my barn with a brooding area set up. I have one duckling that I just removed because it was getting trampled and looked in bad shape. It's leg is bent up to it's body and can't seem to walk on it. It just scoots around and isn't eating or thriving like the others. I've taken pictures of his leg. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! I want to save this sweet duckling!

Welcome to BYC! Can you un-bend the leg?

 

[KATIE HAWKINS]

I've been looking through old duck forums for "lame" and "duckling" but I'm not finding anything. I'm going to try a little water therapy with him/her in the bathtub. I'll keep it very shallow and warm. Thanks for your help.

 

[Debs Flock]

I've been looking through old duck forums for "lame" and "duckling" but I'm not finding anything. I'm going to try a little water therapy with him/her in the bathtub. I'll keep it very shallow and warm. Thanks for your help.

I'll try to find some links and post them here. Are you able to un-bend the leg?

 

[Debs Flock]

Here's one...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-lame-duck.1179805/

An older one...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lame-duck-at-hatch.1115770/

I haven't read these all the way through. I just know they both contain some helpful info. Hope she/he starts improving soon!

 

[adlynch]

This is by no means a solution to the problem, but will help get him some nutrients quick.

And I would say definitely keep the duckling warm under a heatlamp or whatever you have in your setup

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry If it's slipped tendon you might find some info here that can help.

 

[KATIE HAWKINS]

You all are amazing! I'm so appreciate of your quick help. I tried out the water therapy. He/she really seemed to enjoy it and was very relaxed in the sink. I noticed that he/she stretched out the good leg the whole time and the bad leg once of twice. I'm starting to wonder if his/her foot the problem and not the leg? I've attached a picture of the problem foot. I'm also worried because he/she doesn't seem to be eating.

 

[KATIE HAWKINS]

As I was writing this to you all, my husband went out to close the barn door for all the ducks for the night.....and it looks like the drake attacked and killed one of the ducklings. It was out of the brooding area and it's head was practically off and it had a puncture wound on it's abdomen. I just scooped up the remaining ones and brought them into the house too. Another one has a wound on it's abdomen as well. It's just red and missing hair, but the duckling appears very weak. Is it best to hand raise them now? I don't want anymore to die. This is the second one today!