Help! Young Peking (6-7 wks) walks on the joints/"knee" of his legs

[Miss Lydia]

Here is more info with video.

 

[BrittAppalachia]

Don't feel bad, many do fine on chick starter without niacin. Some of these pekins need so much more niacin, so maybe he's one of those. As @Miss Lydia pointed out, his feed are also a little turned in, which might be fine for some ducks, but maybe not for these bigger ones.

Are you still planning on taking him to the vet tomorrow? If not, in addition to the niacin, I would maybe consider a sling for him and lots of swimming. When they are walking like this I worry that they will do irreversible damage to their hock joints trying to get around..

Thank you, thank you!

We're going to put him in a warm tub of water every hour or so for the rest of the day for some extra exercise and to get him of his hock joints.

And yes, we're keeping the vet appt for tomorrow.

And what do you mean by a sling? To keep him standing up?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is another this one is at TSC give the same way.

 

[casportpony]

Here is more info with video.

@BrittAppalachia , you sure could try making a boot.

 

[CayugaJana]

Hello @BrittAppalachia!

I give my Pekins both of the liquid forms that Miss Lydia showed you. But each brand has different concentrations. So let me know which one you get and I can tell you how much to give them. The larger bottle will have to be sucked out with a syringe since it is in a medicine vial. But it’s no biggie. I would squirt it into their mouth. If you dribble a little at a time, they will swallow it down. I put it on mealworms since I know they will eat it really quickly. The reason I like the liquid is because it has faster absorption than other varieties. Which one that is having trouble walking will need. It will stain your clothes though.

I agree with what others have posted for more niacin and exercise. Putting it in the bathtub for swimming is exactly what I think it needs.

Others would have more experience with a shoe or device, but if they were mine I’d be willing to try it. They are resilient. If you need help. I can send you videos of exactly what I do with mine as far as administering the niacin.

And yes she means a sling to get it propped up off the hocks.

 

[BrittAppalachia]

@BrittAppalachia , you sure could try making a boot.

He's happily sitting in his bath eating some kale & says thanks to everyone! We're going to try all these suggestions.

I think we'll do something similar with a bit of plastic or leather! Hopefully it'll help take the strain off of the joint.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Feeds medicated with amprolium, bacitracin, and a few other drugs are perfectly fine for ducks, but chick feed does not have enough niacin for ducklings, so some ducklings will develop leg problems if they eat chick starter.

Thank you for clearing that up! That's good to know.

 

[BrittAppalachia]

Hello @BrittAppalachia!

I give my Pekins both of the liquid forms that Miss Lydia showed you. But each brand has different concentrations. So let me know which one you get and I can tell you how much to give them. The larger bottle will have to be sucked out with a syringe since it is in a medicine vial. But it’s no biggie. I would squirt it into their mouth. If you dribble a little at a time, they will swallow it down. I put it on mealworms since I know they will eat it really quickly. The reason I like the liquid is because it has faster absorption than other varieties. Which one that is having trouble walking will need. It will stain your clothes though.

I agree with what others have posted for more niacin and exercise. Putting it in the bathtub for swimming is exactly what I think it needs.

Others would have more experience with a shoe or device, but if they were mine I’d be willing to try it. They are resilient. If you need help. I can send you videos of exactly what I do with mine as far as administering the niacin.

And yes she means a sling to get it propped up off the hocks.

I'll stop by TSC on my way home from class later today and get back to you ASAP with which brand I get. Thanks so so so much.

 

[CayugaJana]

Okie dokie! The other brand is from Walmart in the vitamin aisle. Its for people who may not have a TSC near them or just want a smaller and cheaper bottle.

I’m glad he’s loving the tub!

 

[Miss Lydia]

He deserves all he can get he is a cutie. We're rooting for him.