Help-lame duck here

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Pekinmomma

In the Brooder
Nov 1, 2017
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One of my Pekin ducks (Clyde) started in late August limping around the yard. No obvious injury on the legs or feet, so I left her in the smaller cage to rest. With no improvement, I took her to the vet and had it x rayed. $300.00 later, I'm told it' s a sprain- rest from ambulation but encourage swimming in warm water, gave pain and anti inflammatories the vet gave me and waited but she never improved. She actually got worse. Now I think the cold weather is really affecting her. She rarely leaves her cage and nest, but when she does leave it, she limps so pathetically using her wings to drag the ground for balance, and even tries to fly around to where she wants to go to. Although she makes short distances, she usually crash lands and im worried she will hurt herself more. My other pekin (Bonnie)is lonely and the Clyde( the injured one) seems lonely as well. She hasn' lost her appetite despite her weight loss. Vet weighed her at 15.2 pounds a few months ago! I dont know what to do with her. I dont want to have to put her down, cant afford more vet appointments that haven' helped so far, and dont know how long she can go on like this (or i can stand to watch this go on).
Anyone have any ideas or had this happen before? Any help is appreciated.
 
I really don't know what to say, this is a hard thing to deal with.
We had a lame duck before though and he lived a long happy life. His name was Tiny because he was smaller than all the other ducks. His legs never really worked right from the time he hatched so he would use his beak and the base of his legs to scoot around the yard. The ducks picked on him so we moved him in with our flock of bantam chickens-mainly Cochins and Silkies. They accepted him right away as part of the flock and really bonded with him. He was the sweetest and one of the only special needs birds I have had.
We also had a duckling with a bad limp. We gave him electrolyte water and separated him from most of the other ducklings for a little while. We also helped him swim in water and I think this was the main thing that helped him get better.
Not sure if those two stories helped at all, I think this one will relate the most to you though. We had a khaki Campbell duck that I think some how must have injured her foot. She was limping around and then had to resort to dragging herself around sort of like Tiny did. The other ducks were picking on her too, so we separated her in her own run but to where she could still see them. Her leg eventually re-healed itself but she couldn't get around the same that she used too. I would give her time to swim in the big pool as often as I could because I could tell this is what made her the happiest and also helped her leg. We found that she wasn't in a lot of pain and her quality of life was pretty good so we decided not to put her down.
I think this is the decision you will have to make. If you think your duck is not in too much pain and can still live a decent life than there is no reason putting her down. The best thing you can do is to make sure that she has the best life that she can, even if you can't make it completely better. She will be happy and it will make you feel better as well knowing she had a great life even though her leg was injured.
Good luck hope this helps:)
 
pineapple416 said:
I really don't know what to say, this is a hard thing to deal with.
We had a lame duck before though and he lived a long happy life. His name was Tiny because he was smaller than all the other ducks. His legs never really worked right from the time he hatched so he would use his beak and the base of his legs to scoot around the yard. The ducks picked on him so we moved him in with our flock of bantam chickens-mainly Cochins and Silkies. They accepted him right away as part of the flock and really bonded with him. He was the sweetest and one of the only special needs birds I have had.
We also had a duckling with a bad limp. We gave him electrolyte water and separated him from most of the other ducklings for a little while. We also helped him swim in water and I think this was the main thing that helped him get better.
Not sure if those two stories helped at all, I think this one will relate the most to you though. We had a khaki Campbell duck that I think some how must have injured her foot. She was limping around and then had to resort to dragging herself around sort of like Tiny did. The other ducks were picking on her too, so we separated her in her own run but to where she could still see them. Her leg eventually re-healed itself but she couldn't get around the same that she used too. I would give her time to swim in the big pool as often as I could because I could tell this is what made her the happiest and also helped her leg. We found that she wasn't in a lot of pain and her quality of life was pretty good so we decided not to put her down.
I think this is the decision you will have to make. If you think your duck is not in too much pain and can still live a decent life than there is no reason putting her down. The best thing you can do is to make sure that she has the best life that she can, even if you can't make it completely better. She will be happy and it will make you feel better as well knowing she had a great life even though her leg was injured.
Good luck hope this helps:)
Click to expand...
Thank you!
I wish the weather was warm, then I could get their large pool out for them again and let her swim but it' 41°F right now . That did seem to help her.
I don' t think she is in pain unless she tries to walk on it. But she seems content to just lay around all day though a little lonely- the other duck forages all day in the yard and ignores her. I plan to bring her in and let her swim in the bathtub for a bit since I was planning on cleaning the tub today anyway .
 
chickens really said:
Does she have heat in her leg?...Possible infection?
Click to expand...
No-doesn't feel warm, swollen or even seem tender when touched. Of course she is probably not going to let me know easily.
Originally I thought she broke it. She seemed to have the affected leg turn in slightly but the vet couldn' t get her to do it in the office. Says it could be just because it feels better to stand that way - i dont know....
 
Romy gets a limp sometimes especially in colder weather. I add turmeric to their food and it gets better. Worth a try. Be careful. Turmeric stains. I would try half teaspoon per cup of food. I moisten the food so the turmeric doesn't settle to the bottom of the food pan. If you prefer dry pellets, then just put at eighth of a teaspoon in a couple tablespoons of mashed peas or similar treat.
 

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