Hole in foot

[veronicasmom]

My pekin was coming out of her shed and I noticed she has a small hole in the webbing on her foot. Not really a tear, just a small round hole. Do I need to be worried. She seems to be walking fine. She is not the most graceful duck, she sort of lumbers around, but this doesn't seem to be effecting her gait.

 

[karlamaria]

I would keep it clean and put antibiotic on it. My friend got chicks with holes between toes, she had to keep them very clean to avoid infection .

 

[ranchhand]

Is it a bloody hole or healed? I seem to remember, vaguely, reading that there are some ducks that are toe punched when hatched? Not sure, but look around and maybe someone will know.

 

[veronicasmom]

There is no blood, no indication of irritation or anything. Just this neat little hole. So strange. She is in the water A LOT, not sure if putting anything on it will be effective. She doesn't seem like it bothers her in the least. Has anyone ever seen this? Will it heal?

 

[AdamD77]

That's so weird, I just noticed a similar thing on one of mine! Unfortunately she has some other issues which are going to need more attention but I was wondering the same

It looks healed like yours, just a tiny hole, like a pierced ear kind of thing...

 

[StevenW.]

Quote:
Yes. Mostly it's for Identification procedures.

 

[veronicasmom]

This is a little bigger than a pierced ear kind of hole. I can't believe she's had it for a long time and I just noticed it. That would be strange. Not impossible though. It just doesn't look new however. Will be keeping a close eye on her.

 

[Horsefly]

I've had my ducks getting little holes in their webbing before. They actually had a slight case of bumblefoot and I think they either injured the spot on the webbing or it got the bumblefoot and healed over. I didn't treat them for the bumblefoot but let them out on our pond and that cleared it up on it's own so I wasn't watching their feet every day to notice the webbing hole. Eventually the hole actually healed and I couldn't tell which duck even had it now. Your duck probably just injured it and ther was a scab filling it so you didn't notice it and now the scab fell off and there is a hole. You never know it could close up eventually too, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[veronicasmom]

She is bombarding all over the place, and when my runner had bumblefoot, she just sat because it hurt to walk. So, I just wonder if she stepped on something sharp and it punctured it cleanly. Sigh.....after a $543 vet bill for one of my goats earlier this week, I DO NOT need another vet visit. Please, please, please.

 

[ranchhand]

Google "toe punching ducks" - it's very common by breeders and hatcheries.