Female Muscovy with injured leg

[Nicky52372]

We have a Muscovy at our pond that has a nest and an injured leg. Is it best to just let her be? She hops around, swims, eats etc. She just kind of drags the bad foot.

 

[casportpony]

@Nicky52372, I merged your two threads.

 

[Nicky52372]

If she's putting any weight on it than it's probably not broken.

Thank you! That puts my mind at ease.

If she's putting any weight on it then it's probably not broken.

 

[Nicky52372]

It may be broke. Hard to say for sure without getting a hold of her, which probably isn't the best idea. Even a tame muscovy can put up quite a fight. A wild one would be impossible. She looks well fed. I'd keep an eye on her and see how it goes. Not much you can do unless you have a vet you could get her to, and than she'd have to stay confined and quiet while healing. Best just to leave her be.

Thank you! Just hearing that makes me feel better! I don’t want to cause her any undo stress. She seems content and we had a few others that have had issues and they cleared up. Honestly the thought of catching her terrifies me . Thank you for responding so fast and giving me some peace.

 

[Nicky52372]

Hi, it seems like you got help for her in another thread. Hope she's doing well!

Thank you! She is still the same today but I will keep checking on her. Do you know if a broken leg will heal on its own with time or could this possibly be the end for her?

 

[Nicky52372]

She will definitely be more vulnerable to predators poor girl. It will most likely heal but she may end up with a limp, as long as the break isn't a compound fracture that wound need medical attention.
They are amazing at healing so hopefully she has a good chance. Any idea how she was injured?

She has two large male Muscovy body guards so I’m wondering if it was a mating injury. Another thought is she placed her nest where she could easily be cornered by a predator. She has abandoned the nest so I’m wondering if she was injured there. I keep hoping to see her putting some weight on it but so far nothing. She flaps her wings but I have not noticed her flying. Can they fly with a broken leg?

 

[Nicky52372]

I wouldn't think a broken leg would keep them from flying but it might hinder getting off the ground as easily.
Did she have eggs in the nest and they have been eaten? She may have tried to protect her nest and got injured but I would think if her leg injury was from a predator she would have other injuries too. Like bite wounds. Unless as she was escaping she somehow injured her leg. Hard to know what may have happened. And then again 2 large drakes to one lone female can cause injuries too But I will say when I had more than one Muscovy drake I never saw them gang up on one female they would have ended up fighting each other instead. But again mine are not feral where they live completely different.

I wouldn't think a broken leg would keep them from flying but it might hinder getting off the ground as easily.
Did she have eggs in the nest and they have been eaten? She may have tried to protect her nest and got injured but I would think if her leg injury was from a predator she would have other injuries too. Like bite wounds. Unless as she was escaping she somehow injured her leg. Hard to know what may have happened. And then again 2 large drakes to one lone female can cause injuries too But I will say when I had more than one Muscovy drake I never saw them gang up on one female they would have ended up fighting each other instead. But again mine are not feral where they live completely different.

The eggs are still in the nest. I’m shocked they have not been eaten. I also have not witnessed my big boys gaining up on her. They seem to protect her more than anything. We have a weird dynamic here. We have 5 males total and 2 are stuck like glue to each other. I’m thinking they are possibly father and son since one is very old and sweet. The younger male fights any other Muscovy that comes near our older resident. He doesn’t get around real well anymore and seems to be blind in one eye and not able to see well out of the other. But the neighborhood takes good care of him.

 

[Nicky52372]

She has been lame for 2 days. Still eating and hoping around. She is not a pet so handling her would take some work. Any thoughts on if this leg is sprained or broken? She does have a male partner so wondering if he just got too rough with her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If she's putting any weight on it than it's probably not broken.

 

[Nicky52372]

If she's putting any weight on it than it's probably not broken.

If she's putting any weight on it than it's probably not broken.

I took a video of her today when she came up. I’m not sure why I’m stressing over this little neighborhood Muscovy. Can you give me your thoughts?