Duckling Leg Problem

[gatrapper]

Hey Y’all,

I have 55 Pekin ducklings that I picked up from TSC. I walked by them in the brooder and they were literally crushing themselves to death. I had to buy them to get them out of there.



3 have developed this problem where they have trouble walking with really swollen leg joints. I have been feeding them a duck starter feed and have been adding additional brewers yeast to their feed since I got them.

What could be causing this problem? What can I do to fix this and make them more comfortable?

 

[Pyxis]

That's something I haven't seen before. What is your brooder setup like? Which duck starter feed are you feeding?

Is the swelling warm/hot to the touch?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

Maybe it's something to do with the new brooders they're using? Pekins are very sensitive to leg problems, so I imagine them all crushing each other definitely didn't help.

I've never seen something like this. I'll tag @Isaac 0 and see if they know anything about this.

 

[gatrapper]

A mix of Tucker Milling Non-GMO chick starter and Tucker Milling Show Flock Starter. Tucker Milling said the second one is better for waterfowl.

They were set up in two brooders that were almost 4x4 with pine shavings.

 

[SolarDuck]

Bless you for taking them in and getting them out of those horrible new tsc brooders, I hope you can find everything you need to know to help them!

 

[Isaac 0]

More information pertaining to some of the physical findings on the leg would be helpful.

Are you able to bend the swelled intertarsal leg joint with ease, or is there noticeable fusion/ or stiffness?
Do you hear any popping, or clicking when the joints are bent?
Do the joints feel warm?
Does the duck walk normally?

There are no obvious lesions/scabbing in the legs which would suggest the problem is likely to not be related to a localized bacterial infection such as staphylococcus. Pekins and other meat birds grow at such an extremely fast rate nutritional deficits can be a common problem that can result in musculoskeletal deformities; if they were mine I think I would try supplementing a broad-spectrum poultry vitamin into their diet and see if there is a noticeable improvement.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/nutri-drench-poultry-4-oz

 

[gatrapper]

@Isaac 0 I have been giving them the Poultry Cell supplement. The joints almost seem fused. They don't really seem to move much. The ducklings walk with their feet pointed inward.

Here is a video I took of the ducklings.

 

[RosemaryDuck]

@Isaac 0 I have been giving them the Poultry Cell supplement. The joints almost seem fused. They don't really seem to move much. The ducklings walk with their feet pointed inward.

Here is a video I took of the ducklings.

If the joints are fused maybe it's something genetic? Since you mentioned 3 of them currently have it. They could all be from the same ducks eggs. If you can, maybe ask the Tractor Supply what hatchery that shipment of ducklings came from.

 

[gatrapper]

I think I heard TSC was getting their chicks and ducks from Hoover.

 

[Pyxis]

I think I heard TSC was getting their chicks and ducks from Hoover.

Some of them. Different TSC's in different locations get them from different hatcheries. Each TSC can get chicks and ducks from a few different hatcheries, too. Mine gets some from Hoover, but also Privett and several others.