Help!!! Indian Runner With Overlapping Feet!

[CityChick15]

HELP!

My 6 week old Indian Runner Rosie has feet that overlap. When she walks they get in her way! Her right leg seems to be twisted and not straight. She still runs around, but not as much as it used to be when she was only a few weeks old.
I am trying to find her a niacin supplement I used to feed her spinach which is rich in Niacin but I read yesterday that spinach is bad for ducks.

What do I do?
She does not seem to be in discomfort now, so what can I do to make sure it does not get worse????


HELP!!

Her leg seems to be turned out

Feet are overlapping

THOUGHTS?

Any guidance would be great;y appreciated!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Oh she is so cute. I don't have any expert advice really, maybe she would tolerate some sort of splint, but I'm not sure how you would fashion one for the purpose. Or maybe she needs duck physical therapy. I'm glad I came upon this thread. I gave my ducks spinach all the time. Did that source you were reading say why it is bad for them? My Chickens love spinach, too.

 

[CityChick15]

scratch'n'peck :

Oh she is so cute. I don't have any expert advice really, maybe she would tolerate some sort of splint, but I'm not sure how you would fashion one for the purpose. Or maybe she needs duck physical therapy. I'm glad I came upon this thread. I gave my ducks spinach all the time. Did that source you were reading say why it is bad for them? My Chickens love spinach, too.

I read about the 'SPINACH ISSUE' on a BYC thread.... I was shocked! My chickens love spinach as well! According to the post some mineral in the spinach interferes with calcium absorption i think. I will try to find it again and re-post it. The author of the post recommended lettuce instead.
Which is totally opposite for humans... lettuce is really hard on humans stomachs (almost impossible for human gut to digest, also some restaurants use a preservative on lettuce that many people are allergic to) spinach is much better for people...but I guess not for poultry! I will continue to investigate!.​

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Another thought is to make sure she gets enough swimming time to help keep her legs strong and good range of motion. I know runners are not the biggest swimmers, but it can't hurt. Thanks for the spinach info, too.

 

[CityChick15]

She gets a swim in the tub everyday...she is sooo stinky and dirty after playing in the mud with the chickens she needs it!

I will keep and eye on it and make sure she is getting lots of exercise!

 

[AdamD77]

My friend hatched a call duck with this problem, though hers was worse than what your duck's looks like. I think if it is really stopping her getting around then you may want to try something (not sure what!), but if it's not too bad then she can probably do fine like it

 

[The Duck ABC's]

I don't see a big overlapping issue here. You have to remember she is still growing and her legs will grow further apart. They kind of grow unevenly meaning one day the legs get bigger, the next the neck gets longer. She will not have an issue once she is 3 months old. They will even move further apart once she starts to lay eggs. I would not splint it, because you can cause more harm if you don't know what you are doing. Niacin will not fix this either, but you should supplement it and vitamins anyway. I think she will be fine, just give her time and don't worry to much.

 

[CityChick15]

Quote:
ADAM,

Thanks so much for your response... I feel better. I am thinking about getting my Rosie a Buddie. Since you have experience with Indian Runners would you recommend a male or female companion. I don't necessarily want the pair to produce ducklings...I just want the best paring for Rosie.
Thoughts?

Also, i am finishing building a coop for my chicken what kind of housing do you have for your runners? So far, all I have come up with is an dog house inside the chicken run, is that enough protection for my ducks?

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

-City Chick

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I must admit splinting does seem too extreme. Hopefully she will out grow the problem or adapt her walk so it won't slow her down. Thank you for the PM on spinach.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

My Muscovy's have overlapped feet like that. They walk and swim fine