Duckling swollen hock joint

[Khakicamp_04]

Please help!

My duckling hatched last night, a few days late. He seems to have a swollen hock joint and he can't straighten his leg at all.

When it push it, it goes down a bit and doesn't seem to cause any pain, but it's very stiff.

He can't walk, he just kind of hops and shuffles. He also seems very lathargic.

I've been giving him niacin in his water and feeding with a pipette so I know he's getting it. But he's in a tub with 3 others and I worry they'll push him around a bit too much.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, please please!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Please help!

My duckling hatched last night, a few days late. He seems to have a swollen hock joint and he can't straighten his leg at all.

When it push it, it goes down a bit and doesn't seem to cause any pain, but it's very stiff.

He can't walk, he just kind of hops and shuffles. He also seems very lathargic.

I've been giving him niacin in his water and feeding with a pipette so I know he's getting it. But he's in a tub with 3 others and I worry they'll push him around a bit too much.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, please please!

I would separate from the others since he can't walk, but let him still see them through a divide. Let's see about getting some more experienced advice, though
@WVduckchick @Miss Lydia @New duck mommy 2021

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I would separate from the others since he can't walk, but let him still see them through a divide. Let's see about getting some more experienced advice, though
@WVduckchick @Miss Lydia @New duck mommy 2021

I agree he should be separated for now as they could hurt him
Some ducklings need 24 hours to get their bodies going after hatch
Did he hatch on his own ? Was it assisted ? Did he struggle while hatching ?
Make sure he has something that isn’t slippery when trying to get around
You can add sugar to the water to help boost him but he really may not want much feed or water at this point it’s not even been a day yet
The yolk can keep them going for 48 hours or so after hatching
I had one that took 2 days for his feet and legs to get relaxed

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...of-slipped-tendons-in-bantam-duckling.987977/
sounds like a slipped tendon, you may be able to run your fingers gently down the back of the leg and put it back in place.

 

[BelovedBirds]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...of-slipped-tendons-in-bantam-duckling.987977/
sounds like a slipped tendon, you may be able to run your fingers gently down the back of the leg and put it back in place.

this is what I suspected too, but I didn't want to say the wrong thing

 

[Miss Lydia]

When they can't bend their leg down straight that is usually what it is hopefully since its young the OP can work with it and fix it.

@Khakicamp_04 more info http://www.poultrypedia.com/poultry-podiatry

 

[Khakicamp_04]

I would separate from the others since he can't walk, but let him still see them through a divide. Let's see about getting some more experienced advice, though
@WVduckchick @Miss Lydia @New duck mommy 2021

Thank you so much for replying

I did consider this, but I don't have a second heat lamp. The only other source of heat I have is the incubator, until I can grab another lamp tomorrow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you put up a divider in your brooder so they can share one heat lamp?

 

[Khakicamp_04]

Can you put up a divider in your brooder so they can share one heat lamp?

That's a good idea, I'll give it a go. Thank you

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

How’s the little one doing today ?