Help, lame Indian Runner mamma!

[michinrepose]

I hope someone out there has encountered this kind of problem and can give me some suggestions. I have two Indian Runners, a breeding pair. The female recently hatched our four ducklings, two have survived and are flourishing. The problem: about a week or two after the hatch I noticed that mamma was walking funny. I've experienced Indian Runners becoming gimpy after being chased or getting caught into something, sometimes they heal up just fine on their own. But my lady duck seems to be getting worse poor thing, she can barely walk about, for her to stand she must jut out her neck and tuck in her tail in order to balance, then her little legs tremble and shake so, finally her strength gives out and she plops to the ground. Today I've noticed that the Mr is becoming very protective of his bride, even driving off the babes when they get too close, I certainly hope I'm not going to have problems with him allowing the little fellows to join the flock. Can anyone give me any advice, I'd surely appreciate it, thanks, Michele

 

[pekinduck<3er]

any cuts on he feet or puss coming out i forgot what its called but it need surgery alot of times

 

[tia]

Does anything look different on the bottom of her foot??? Does you have pictures???

 

[michinrepose]

Last night I realized that I had to take a closer look, so I waited till she was settled and was able to pick her up without causing her to panic and run. Her feet look absolutely perfect, no marks or injuries of any kind, leading me to believe that this must be purely muscular or hip-oriented. I've put in a mail to Holderread's Waterfowl Farm and I'm hoping they will have an idea of what's wrong. If anyone out there has experienced anythng like this I'd sure like to hear about it!

 

[DuckyDonna]

I have a runner that is 1 1/2 yrs old that is doing the exact same thing. Sometimes she is perfectly fine and runs with the rest of the flock but mostly her legs tremble and she plops to the ground just like yours! The other 4 runners are fine.

Oh my, I just noticed this post was from 7 years ago.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What are you feeding and even though she is one an a half years old I would still pursue the notion she may have a niacin deficiency and might be helped by liquid B Complex. Has she been laying? If so it could even be a calcium deficiency? Give us more info please

 

[DuckyDonna]

What are you feeding and even though she is one an a half years old I would still pursue the notion she may have a niacin deficiency and might be helped by liquid B Complex. Has she been laying? If so it could even be a calcium deficiency? Give us more info please

They are getting cracked corn, Dumor layer pellets and Dumor grower feeder. Equal portions of each. They also get apples, grapes, cabbage, and turnip greens every so often too for treats. None of the other 4 have this problem. I do have brewer's yeast but I'm not sure how to give it just to her. The liquid B would work. Where would I find that?
I don't know if she's laying but one of my 3 old girls is NOT and I'll bet its her but have no way of knowing. They have a bowl of oyster shells that they all eat often.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Try the liquid B complex you can give it to all or just her. You can get it at TSC in the cattle dept. 1 ml per duck and best to feed it over a treat so your sure they are getting the amount they should instead of putting it in water where it will be watered down. Try that for at least a week and try and figure out if she is laying maybe put a bit of food coloring around the vent feathers then if she lays the egg will have color on it. That way we'll know if it's a calcium def. When one has symptoms already it's best to go with the liquid B's instead of Brewers yeast. The liquid is more concentrated and works faster and what she doesn't need she'll pee out.

 

[Runner duck mom]

I had the same issue with one of my runners this past summer. B complex worked great for her.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Try the liquid B complex you can give it to all or just her. You can get it at TSC in the cattle dept. 1 ml per duck and best to feed it over a treat so your sure they are getting the amount they should instead of putting it in water where it will be watered down. Try that for at least a week and try and figure out if she is laying maybe put a bit of food coloring around the vent feathers then if she lays the egg will have color on it. That way we'll know if it's a calcium def. When one has symptoms already it's best to go with the liquid B's instead of Brewers yeast. The liquid is more concentrated and works faster and what she doesn't need she'll pee out.

thanks for the suggestion. I'll go to TSC soon and give it a try.