How to help my stubborn drake heal

[arrowti]

My drake, Opie, went and aggravated his gimp knee today, by going for an awkward walk-stumble-trip through the backwoods of the enclosure. I didn't help, as I went to drive them back into the flat grassy area and made him trip and stumble even more. Later, I noticed he was having a notoriously difficult time walking (more than usual), standing awkwardly, and having difficulty getting up. His knee is swollen and he's definitely struggling to get around.

A little background: last year my drake decided to try and jump down the ramp instead of walking down, landed badly, and broke/dislocated his right knee. Unfortunately it wasn't a visible break, and I assumed it was a sprain until I realized his leg wasn't healing and his knee joint became disfigured after the inflammation. Between tumeric/cayenne powder, epsom salt wraps and soaks, and a week of bed-rest in the winter, he was still limping. But he wasn't having issues getting around and I left him be.

Unfortunately it's simply too hot to keep the ducks locked up in the coop during the day, with the sun beating down on their coop, even with windows open. His females aren't particularly worried about him and will go wherever they want and he will follow, regardless of the terrain. I want to try and keep him in a relatively flat, growth-free area to help his leg heal back to its normal awkward state. I don't like seeing him in pain. While he can walk around and is following the ducks he stands upright, like a runner, with his tail down, and when he walks his rear/tail brushes against the ground, making his belly/tail wet.

I once tried to put him in a fenced in area away from the ducks so he could rest but the ducks wandered off without him and he was panicking and trying to fly over/through it so it didn't work out. Any advice? He's our only drake and he gets too stressed when his ducks are out of sight.

 

[Miss Lydia]

He def needs to be penned so he can rest his leg put his ladies in with him it may take a week or more of soaks and rest with some water therapy too. Main thing is keeping him from doing a lot of walking especially rough terrain

 

[arrowti]

I know adult ducks don't 'need' certain supplements like ducklings do, but I know ducklings often get additional niacin when they display leg injuries/deformities. Would adding brewer's yeast to his food while I have him in recovery help at all?

I have an old dog crate 'fence' that I could try to stick him in. Maybe with just one other duck so they're together and the other two/three (if the broody feels like going outside) can go do what they want. If it was a little cooler I would be more comfortable leaving them in the coop for a day or two. He loves to sit in the pool and just relax for long periods of time. He limps better afterwards as well, as long as he doesn't hurt himself getting 'out' of the pool. He's always been an exceptionally clumsy drake.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d def try some supplements but I think Bcomplex I think since he is having a difficult time right now why not pull out the big guns to try. It may not help but you’ll never know till you try. Just try the B complex for about a week you can mix it it’s his food just a small amount so your sure he gets the whole dose or over meal worms or peas. Since your only dosing your drake get human liquid B complex and give him 3 ml a day.

 

[arrowti]

I'll go pick up some B Complex today. I swore I had some (powdered form) but I can't find it anywhere. He's moving a little better today, thanks to a good night's sleep. He can't swing his foot around saplings or other slightly strong weeds, however. I added some tumeric to his water in the meantime for the inflammation.

He isn't standing weird like yesterday. I stuck him in the pen with his favorite duck and so far the others haven't left.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They really do make a happy family it’s so sweet. Good to hear he is improving. That’s encouraging

 

[arrowti]

I let him out for some pool time since it's gotten hot and I noticed although he was drinking, his eye was starting to get foamy. The rubber bowls have handles and the one I used was damaged over winter so the handle is stuck halfway up and for some reason he didn't like his head brushing the handle so he wouldn't dunk his head.



The grass needs to be mowed. Saplings, large weeds, anything with slightly more strength than a blade of grass proved difficult. He managed to get in the pool just fine, though. He has his own skill for jumping in the pool. He leans forward, puts his good leg up, pushes, and then falls in (he gets out the same way too!). He's scared of ramps. The joint doesn't look too swollen, however, and probably just needs some good rest. I wish I could make him a little splint-like wrapping for it but he'd probably chew if off.

So... he doesn't like treats. He used to eat them when he was younger, but ever since he started being a 'drake', he doesn't eat them. He'll pick up pieces of cucumber to give to his hens and he'll point out lettuce with his bill but he doesn't eat any of it. Aside from cracked corn. I'll have to mix it with his feed, since that's all he'll eat.

The girls will eat everything, from lizards to cracked corn to pees, but he won't touch anything other than cracked corn (no whole corn either!) and feed!

I have a weird duck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Putting it in his feed is fine. I just give him a small portion to start so you know your getting the whole dose in him. Look forward to good updates too .

 

[arrowti]

Post-pool time: the visible leg is the leg with problems

Also, shameless duck-picture posting

I believe he still has a bit of gunk around his eyes so when they go in tonight I'll try to wipe them and check for any inflammation. I have saline and antibiotics if needed. He usually stands on his good leg with his bad one off to the side. His 'vent' dries the slowest.

And.. how he walks. Poor guy.

He's lying down in the sun. I'm putting them in early tonight so he can get extra rest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww bless! He is beautiful,good for you rest and b complex and water therapy is what the doctor has ordered!