Help! What is wrong with my duckling's feet?

[jtn42248]

Hello Everyone!
Things are wonderful but some of these babies need alot of loving care. 2 were not drinking or eating so I kept them close by and caoxed them often by putting their little beaks lightly in the water. Finally they were tired of my handling them and started to drink and eat.

Yes there are many crested and there were also 2 mini call ducks and I am not sure what the others are. I have 3 runners, 1 peking (i think) 2 mini call ducks and 1 that is gray with some yellow and surprising enough there is 1 muscovy in my bunch. His back was actually bloody when I took him home. Now the down is growing back in and no signs of infection or blood. Their little feets

are so sore but with alot of soaking and clean towels to stand on all day and night, we are seeing changes so I am really happy about that.

We also built a special pen outside for them on clean grass so that they can cool their feets and have fresh air.

They spend their nights in the house of course and are really good babies. They have free run of the house but I wish I had tiny diapers for them.

So we have rolls of paper towels everywhere in the house. LOL

The 2 other ladies were lucky to get a few each that did not have burns but they said that almost every duckling is growing back the down on their backs and the ones with burns are
being treated 3 times a day. 1 lady actually keeps them in her living room! She said she is doing alot of cleaning but today her new duck pen will be ready. She has not had ducks for a very long time and calls me often with questions but she is doing great!
The one lady with the chicks had to separate them from the ducklings right away because of the pecking on the ducklings' backs.
Oh and she is using baking soda in the water to soak their feet and says that it is working very well since she did not have epsom salt and I am actually running out of it myself.
So I wanted to know if baking soda is safe enough for the babies?

We are just so happy to have gotten all those ducklings out of there.

You surely have been visited by Saint Cuthbert who was alive in the 600's in northern England. "Cuthbert instituted special laws to protect the ducks and other seabirds nesting on the islands" and the Cuddy Duck is the "symbol" of him. In any case you and your friends have done a remarkable thing that we could only pray for and watch to see what unfolded. I personally thank you and I know that the ducks you have saved will be eternally grateful in their own way.

I don't see any problem with using baking soda in place of epson salts so long as you do it pretty much the same way, do not let them drink the stuff, just soak their little feet.

Thank you again for what you have done and making my day a much better one.

 

[jenblackson]

I agree with the EP and A&D. We had something similar happen to one of our campbells but she turned out just fine Best of luck!

 

[Debs Flock]

Thanks so much for the update @DuckyGaze !

I just can't adequately express how your generous and caring nature has brightened my days. It's quite simply heart warming and I'm thrilled that those ducklings/chicks will have a good life now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks so much for the update @DuckyGaze !

I just can't adequately express how your generous and caring nature has brightened my days. It's quite simply heart warming and I'm thrilled that those ducklings/chicks will have a good life now.

X2 I am just amazed.

Bless all 3 of your hearts.

 

[Amykins]

We did it!

I hate to sound like an echo chamber, but you really are one of the most kindhearted individuals to walk the planet Earth, you know that? I'm so happy to hear that all the babies are doing better! Did you ever get the photos of the seller's awful conditions? I hope you did so you could forward them to the SCPA or something. :/

 

[needlessjunk]

You are amazing for going back for the rest. I'm so glad to hear this update and that they are out of there. I would for sure keep following up with the SPCA since he needs to be shut down and not breeding more. You have made a difference in the lives of these little ducklings!

 

[DuckyGaze]

All the ducklings are doing great!!!

We did not lose any at all and after many days of soaking their feet and applying ointment and putting them on soft grass or towels, I can say that their feet are beautiful! All the burns spots are almost completely gone. The down is taking a bit longer to grow in on many of them however and their little backs are a bit raw but time will heal that also.

I just love my new babies. They are so cute and seem so incredibly happy now.

Baking soda worked great on their feet. I had to wrap one little guy's feet in vet tape to keep the burns covered but he is doing really good if a bit awkward at first. I removed the tape last night and his feet are really awesome. I am so happy that they all healed quickly.

A few seem to think that they should continue to walk the way they did with the burn spots however. It is rather cute but will they eventually walk normal?
It is like it has become a habit for them to step lightly.

 

[jtn42248]

All the ducklings are doing great!!!

We did not lose any at all and after many days of soaking their feet and applying ointment and putting them on soft grass or towels, I can say that their feet are beautiful! All the burns spots are almost completely gone. The down is taking a bit longer to grow in on many of them however and their little backs are a bit raw but time will heal that also.

I just love my new babies. They are so cute and seem so incredibly happy now.

Baking soda worked great on their feet. I had to wrap one little guy's feet in vet tape to keep the burns covered but he is doing really good if a bit awkward at first. I removed the tape last night and his feet are really awesome. I am so happy that they all healed quickly.

A few seem to think that they should continue to walk the way they did with the burn spots however. It is rather cute but will they eventually walk normal?
It is like it has become a habit for them to step lightly.

What you and your friends did is so wonderful and it is so nice to hear they all are doing well and surviving. Don't worry about their gait. It may correct with time but even if it does not it will only add to their special place in your life.

 

[DuckyGaze]

Thank you everyone for the kind words. We are still really happy to have been able to get all the babies out of there.
I haven't heard anything about animal protection groups going there however and that did bother me until I called and was told that there was more going on than I thought. Apparently there is some kind of investigation into alleged animal cruelty in Ontario also, therefore I have been told politely "to stay out of it and stop asking questions".. hmmmm. This is not an FBI investigation for darn's sake!

So now I know that they are currently doing something ... but no idea what.

My babies are so darn happy. They are strolling, 2 are tiptoeing and 1 is sort of stomping, on the grass in the early morning sun.

My other ducks will not have them though. They peck at them and gang up on a little one...so I am keeping them in their own pen
and they seem to know to stay away from the others. Wish they could all be 1 big happy family but I accept that ducks have their
characters, likes and dislikes and some just have "habits" so we will be building a new duck house for the babies to grow up in and have
as their own.
But they cannot get to the pond...the geese and other ducks do not want them near the pond so today my sam has agreed to did a
small pond for them so that they can also benefit from the swimming that they love so much.

I am happy that now they can trot around outside.

Got to go.. 7:30 am and still so much to do.