Have a baby duck with a hurt leg any advice?

[Kelly713]

We have ducklings less than a week old out in a cardboard box with pine bedding and the other day I noticed one of the smaller ones was limping. It looks like the leg might have gotten dislocated, but I am not sure how it happened. When you touch the leg the duckling acts like he is in pain, and he doesn't walk on it very much. Any advice on what I can do for him? This is my first batch of call ducks and I don't want to leave him in pain if there is something that can be done.

 

[Amiga]

There is much that can be done, and I am about to be late to depart, but first,

Get him into a warm (80F) bath, just deep enough for him to float. Do not leave him, even for a minute, while he is in the water.

Let him float for 5 to 10 minutes (he will let you know when he is tired) to get the weight off the leg. When done, be sure he is in a clean, dry, warm place, perhaps dab him dry with a washcloth.

It may be a pulled muscle, a slipped tendon, or infection. Hard to tell at this point.

Meanwhile, if you are not already doing this, give the ducklings vitamins/electrolytes/probiotics once a week at least. They are available online or at some feed stores.

Make sure the bedding gives all the ducklings enough traction that they don't slip and slide, and be sure they have plenty of room.

Do some searches on the forum for duckling leg, and see what you can find.

More later, I hope.