Duckling with leg issue - any ideas?

[walter123]

My husband and I were at TSC today and saw a duckling with a leg issue. We don’t have any ducks, just chickens, but we couldn’t leave it behind, so we brought it home with a friend.

She gets around fine, is eating and drinking, but it doesn’t place that foot correctly. Doesn’t appear to be any swelling or other abnormalities.

We have read a bit about nutritional deficiencies and tendon issues, but does anyone have an idea of what could be causing it?

We’re planning on splinting it and seeing how it goes.

 

[BelovedBirds]

My husband and I were at TSC today and saw a duckling with a leg issue. We don’t have any ducks, just chickens, but we couldn’t leave it behind, so we brought it home with a friend.

She gets around fine, is eating and drinking, but it doesn’t place that foot correctly. Doesn’t appear to be any swelling or other abnormalities.

We have read a bit about nutritional deficiencies and tendon issues, but does anyone have an idea of what could be causing it?

We’re planning on splinting it and seeing how it goes.

View attachment 3528846

Firstly, thank you for adopting the little one, and with a friend too!

A couple pointers for ducklings, as they have their differences to chicks, you may already know these things:
Diet: duckling feeds are best. But if you can't access one, a chick starter supplemented with 1 tbsp of nutritional or brewers yeast, will be okay.
Water: a waterer which is deep enough for the ducklings to dunk their heads in is important, but ensure they can climb in, as they won't be waterproof yet. A tubberware container with holes in the lid can work well.
Heat: ducklings don't need it quite as warm as chicks do, but as long as they can escape the heat to a cool side of the brooder, they should do fine.

As for the little one with a poorly leg. There's a few things it could be, but it would be a good idea to rule out slipped tendons.
I would get some B complex from tractor supply, by the brand durvet, 1 ml daily given orally over a small bit of food. This contains a good amount of niacin and if this is a nutritional issue, that could help.

If you feel the leg, is it the same as the other ducklings legs? Nothing out of place, the back of leg feels the same? No swelling?
If you stretch the leg and foot out gently, does it open out normally? Or is there stiffness?

If it is just the foot that doesn't open out correctly when the duckling walks, I think a "shoe" would be an option. Let me tag some people who know more about this

@Miss Lydia @New duck mommy 2021

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you share a video you'll have to upload on youtube or another venue then copy and paste it here.
Can the duckling walk at all using this leg? does it always hold it out to the side?

Congrats on your 2 little ones they are adorable.

this link has good info on how to correct issues.
http://www.poultrypedia.com/poultry-podiatry

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

When baby walks does it leave the leg back or walk on it to the side or normal with toes curled
A little video bay help us to see
Usually a slipped tendon will cause swelling so the quicker we can figure it out the better
You upload the video to YouTube then post the link here

 

[walter123]

Thank you guys for responding! Here is a link to a video of the duck walking. Any advice you guys have is greatly appreciated!

We will pick up the B complex tonight from TSC and start giving that. I’m assuming we should try splinting it as well?

 

[walter123]

This is what TSC was feeding them, so we picked that up. We figured it was better to keep the feed the same until we figure out what’s going on with the leg.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay you don't want it to continue to walk like that so make a boot to keep the foot flat and in a normal position. That link I gave gives info on how to make a shoe. Is there swelling around the hock[knee area] or redness heat? feel along the back on both legs so you can compare does anything feel out of place in the leg that the duckling is favoring? The quicker you work on fixing this the better chance it has of recovering. But we need to know if it's a slipped tendon or possibly an injury go ahead and work on getting the boot done so the foot lays flat. If it's a slipped tendon you maybe able to feel it if there isn't any swelling. the tendon runs down the back of the leg in a groove when they slip out is when the leg won't bend down in a normal position.

 

[Miss Lydia]

View attachment 3529133

This is what TSC was feeding them, so we picked that up. We figured it was better to keep the feed the same until we figure out what’s going on with the leg.

That's good feed I used it for many years before going to NON GMO but one nice thing about an all flock like that is they can be on it their whole lives.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you decide its a slipped tendon after good examination then this may help it;s a chick in this story but would most likel y work the same for a duckling
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/treating-a-chick-with-a-slipped-tendon-one-chick’s-story.69353/

info on niacin def and what dose to give for age of duckling
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[walter123]

Sounds good. My husband went to get the B Complex, so I’m waiting for him to get back to put on the boot and check out the tendon. He said before that he didn’t feel swelling in the joint and it appears to be similar in size to the other joint, but I’ll ask him specifically to check the back of the leg to feel for the tendon.

If it is a slipped tendon, is the boot likely to resolve the problem over time? We obviously don’t want to cause her unnecessary pain and discomfort.

We found these as well, so a little more stability than cardboard, but they will take about a week to arrive, so we will put it in a cardboard boot for now!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/865193482/chicken-splint-complete-pack-including