Duckling leg

[ajroth166]

Okay so here are some better pictures. It’s walking around but can’t extend the other leg very much either but that one isn’t as stiff and it’s not extended upwards either. The hip joints on both sides are flexible and mobile. On the right leg, which is the major problem one, the knee is not able to bend upwards or downwards and he’s walking on top of the knee like it’s a peg leg lol it’s doing so well that I don’t know what to do. It’s moving to get water and food and snuggling with the other ducklings. My only concern is when they get introduced with my older mixed flock from last spring.

Here are closer pictures of the right knee joint

 

[chickens really]

Okay so here are some better pictures. It’s walking around but can’t extend the other leg very much either but that one isn’t as stiff and it’s not extended upwards either. The hip joints on both sides are flexible and mobile. On the right leg, which is the major problem one, the knee is not able to bend upwards or downwards and he’s walking on top of the knee like it’s a peg leg lol it’s doing so well that I don’t know what to do. It’s moving to get water and food and snuggling with the other ducklings. My only concern is when they get introduced with my older mixed flock from last spring.

Here are closer pictures of the right knee joint

Personally I do cull. It's not a bad thing because quality of life is more important than our feelings. Best wishes.

 

[casportpony]

he’s walking on top of the knee like it’s a peg leg lol it’s doing so well that I don’t know what to do.

Speaking from personal experience, I am afraid that if it continues to do this the joint will get swollen and raw, then infected.

 

[danceswithronin]

Personally I would cull because I don't see how you could straighten and hobble the leg without breaking it first, and I don't think it's worth it to put the animal in that kind of suffering for a fix that may or may not work anyway, the shock and pain of the leg being broken to reset could kill it. Plus it's pretty likely the duck would have issues with it throughout its life, including osteoarthritis later that may put it in a lot of chronic pain that isn't necessarily easy to spot or treat.

 

[happy duck]

I agree with lots of people on here(the culling part but also the see what we can do part). If it were me I would try the splint @casportpony said(I was going to suggest that too) and see how he does. Try to keep us updated so we can help if you need it. I am pulling for this duckling(but I also know we can only do so much). I am glad it is eating and drinking and cuddling with is siblings those are all good signs and that should be encouraging.

 

[ajroth166]

I am so sad to say that we ended up culling it the cons outweighed the pros. I knew it was happy and healthy now but I had to think of it’s future. I was afraid he wouldn’t be living a happy or good life out in the coop. It wouldn’t be able to get in and out and the risk of being picked on by my other chickens and ducks is pretty high. It’s flying in ducky heaven now. God gives and takes away, this morning a chick hatched from an egg and a ducky is pipped now, both from eggs that I didn’t think were going to hatch but left them in the incubator for another 24 hrs to see what happens. So glad that I did

 

[casportpony]

I am very sorry for your loss

 

[happy duck]

Very sorry for your loss but also very happy about the chick and the duck. Hope they hatch and do well!

 

[Miss Lydia]

You made the best decision for the little one. Always hard no matter what. Very sorry for your loss