Help! My duck has messed up legs!

[JustinD88]

Hi everyone just signed up to this site because I don’t know what else to do. I bought my girlfriend a pekin duckling and another duckling (mallard colors) back in September. We kept them inside until they got their feathers and now they live in my garage in their coop with fresh bedding on the ground. the pekin always seemed to have leg issues which we thought was a niacin deficiency so we always gave her brewers yeast in her food. I’m in New Jersey and it’s been very cold up here lately. The pekin started to not walk at all during the extreme cold. Once it slightly warmed up she seemed to be walking better but won’t put weight on her right leg. We brought her to the vet today and the vet said her tendons are messed up and there’s nothing they can do. She said it doesn’t seem as if the duck is in pain but they said if it gets worse bring her back to have her put down and my girlfriend has been crying her eyes out all day. Before we resort to that option is there any way we can make a homemade splint to see if that helps at all? I’m at a loss for what to do and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

You can try banding them together and that might strengthen the legs. Use pantyhose and tie to around the legs close to the body. If it’s not in pain I wouldn’t cull it unless you will not be supervising it.

 

[azygous]

I understand and sympathize as I have a chicken that has the same problem. Unfortunately, there really isn't much that can be done about this condition just as there isn't much we humans can do about our arthritic limbs.

I give my hen a baby aspirin each morning to take the edge off her pain in her right leg, and it helps her to feel more like walking around and to lead a halfway normal life. You might give that a try.

Also, ducks love to play in water, and if you can rig up a small tub of warm water for your Pekin to paddle around in, the warmth can soothe the tendons and perhaps she will then be more flexible and feel like walking.

So, a warm soak and a bit of swimming exercise each day along with a baby aspirin just may give your duck the edge that's needed to get her up and about.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of the duck’s legs while holding it ina standing position? Leg bone deformities are common in all poultry, and can become worse with age and growing. Varus or valgus deformity is very common in one or both legs. Many, including vets, and online sources may refer to these as slipped tendons, when many times they are deformities. Those usually are a result of mineral deficincies in the parents, or sometimes from too rapid growth. Usually, there is no good treatment. Some do try splinting especially on their chickens. I am not that aware of duck problems, so I would also post on the duck forum here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

Here is some reading on leg bone deformities in poultry:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are a couple more sources to read:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...yone-ever-try-to-fix-this-experiences.879233/

http://www.duckdvm.com/condition/slipped-tendon

 

[JustinD88]

Okay. I will definitely try a warm swim for him to see if that helps relax him at all. I am currently at work so I can’t take a picture but I will post one as soon as I am home. I will also post in the duck forum thank you for pointing me to that this is my first time using this forum so I wasn’t sure where to post so thank you for that

 

[JustinD88]

My girlfriend said that it’s the tendons in his joints. She said it’s like our knee and instead of just moving how it should apparently it can move in all directions. Just a little more clarity on what’s going on

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

My girlfriend said that it’s the tendons in his joints. She said it’s like our knee and instead of just moving how it should apparently it can move in all directions. Just a little more clarity on what’s going on

Apply a splint at the hock. Slipped tendons are common and not to be confused with rickets since that is a bone deformity.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes the hock tendon is where most leg bone deformities can occur. The hock tendon may become ruptured eventually. Many ducks and chickens live an okay life with their deformitiy if they can get around. You might want to try splinting with a figure 8 wrap around the top and bottom of the hock tendon for extra support, but don’t get it too tight to interupt circulation. Here is a link that shows the bow legged and knock kneed appearance in duck leg deformities, also called varus or valgus deformity:
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2011/03/are-my-ducklings-leg-problems-due-to.html

 

[JustinD88]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post a picture of the duck’s legs while holding it ina standing position? Leg bone deformities are common in all poultry, and can become worse with age and growing. Varus or valgus deformity is very common in one or both legs. Many, including vets, and online sources may refer to these as slipped tendons, when many times they are deformities. Those usually are a result of mineral deficincies in the parents, or sometimes from too rapid growth. Usually, there is no good treatment. Some do try splinting especially on their chickens. I am not that aware of duck problems, so I would also post on the duck forum here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

Here is some reading on leg bone deformities in poultry:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

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