Help me keep my special needs duck happy!

[Eritaytay]

Hi friends!

A few weeks ago we got a 4.5 week old Peking duckling who has special needs. Unfortunately Harriet was born with a deformed leg which won’t be able to be corrected and the vet has suggested she be an indoor pet, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sound a little fun to me.

She has adjusted to being pampered and indoors very well, she sleeps next to my side of the bed (mostly so I can stare in awe!) and has daily baths and play time and all the snuggles she could possibly want. Other than the occasional panting when it gets a little too warm, she seems to be Healthy. She has really started to adapt to only having one functional leg and her balance and strength gets better everyday. She hops and rolls and scoots across the floor and her bum leg is her designated back scratcher.

My ultimate concern is making sure she is living a happy a fulfilled life. With ducks being such social animals I’ve been worried about her getting lonely, but her flock and our chickens were less than friendly to her I work 100% from home and she goes every where with me so she’s never alone, and her bed has her mirror and snugglies in it for nighttime.We try and keep it exciting for her with new fruits and veggies, and we spend time outside every day Looking for bugs and swimming.
I’ve never cared for a special needs duck nor can I find a whole lot online for others who have so I’m hoping you guys will have some suggestions as well as advice for keeping her happy and healthy!

 

[mviera101]

Sounds like a very lucky duck. She super cute too .I'm a chicken gal myself but ducks being social like chickens, seems like you have the balance right :

 

[Sablehaven]

You could adopt another duckling, a small and very mellow breed. Just introduce them slowly and let them bond. Worst case scenario, they don't bond well and you have another duck.

It sounds like you are doing a phenomenal job caring for them though : )

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

i always recommend having atleast two ducks because of how social they are. except when they are disabled. in my opinion, it’s unfair to all of the ducklings. the special needs duck won’t ever be able to keep up with the others, so it’ll always be stressed. and the normal duck will want to stick with its friend and never get to be a normal duck.

so i wouldn’t get him a friend.

 

[Knitwit9916]

I am also struggling with a similar situation. We have a special needs duck, Wobbles, who is indoors because she cannot be out with the other ducks and chickens because she can't keep up and hurts herself trying. I worry about her social needs too.

How are you handling poop? Does yours wear a diaper? Is she ever penned up?

Ours recently hurt her leg (trying to run with her duckling sisters outside) and has been in a confined space indoors while she heals, but I want to expand her area as she gets stronger. She actually was completely unable to walk for a couple of weeks and had to be in a sling to get the weight off of her legs. She is now able to stand and is starting to walk again, but needs to work on her balance muscles.

We have come to realize that she will always be an indoor duck - which wasn't the plan when we rescued her, but plans change . So I would like to create the best home possible for her.

 

[Knitwit9916]

This is Wobbles, her neck is severely deformed as well as her back. We are not sure what happened to her, but TSC asked us to take her when we bought other ducks from them. We have treated her for Niacin deficiency since we received her 2 months ago, but her issue does not seem to be nutrition related. Her neck is in the shape of a 'Z' with sharp bends/edges in it. She is also developmentally behind (doesn't have feathers on her back, just down).

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

This is Wobbles, her neck is severely deformed as well as her back. We are not sure what happened to her, but TSC asked us to take her when we bought other ducks from them. We have treated her for Niacin deficiency since we received her 2 months ago, but her issue does not seem to be nutrition related. Her neck is in the shape of a 'Z' with sharp bends/edges in it. She is also developmentally behind (doesn't have feathers on her back, just down).

what breed is she? i know some calls who are bred to have such small have issues

 

[Knitwit9916]

what breed is she? i know some calls who are bred to have such small have issues

Not sure, we just assumed she was a Pekin since she was at Tractor Supply. She is quite a bit smaller than the Khakis that we have that are actually younger than her, but her head and beak and quite big. She is very out of proportion and her back is hunchy. She has normal duck size feet. We are not super familiar with calls, other than seeing them in pictures, so I don't know.