Hurt duckling

[kesrchicky16]

I have a 10 day old duckling being raised by mama. I think it got snatched by a crow yesterday and got 2 injuries. 1st a small pin hole puncture on the right side just behind the hip. 2nd it wasnt using its left leg at all last night.

We cleaned and dressed the puncture and kept it in a brooder still set up from my last chick hatch last night. When we got up this morning the puncture looked really good. While trying to dress it the skin had torn a but from it wiggling. And there was no signs if puss or inflammation at probably 18 to 20 hours after initial injury.

More concerning is the leg. I dont feel any breaks and the joints all move normally. It started hobbling a bit but is walking on its knuckles. It has the appearance of "tip toeing" like when you first sprain your ankle. It seems to get better the more time passes.

I took it back out to mama. It hadn't peeped at all since bringing it in but as soon as I stepped outside it started calling for mom. It is still knuckling but faster. I can spread the toes and place them on the ground but it sits down when i do that. Won't put any weight on the foot that way. The ankle seems to move fine and its mental health seems better outside.

What more can i do and how will i know if there is no chance of an actually recovery?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Could be a pinched nerve, but I suspect bruising. I'd give all of your ducks some vitamin B (available at Walmart and TSC) because it's good for leg health and try some physical therapy in a tub of water. (Maybe add a drop of bleach to the water beforehand so that nothing can get into the wound. Epsom salt's good too.)

Good luck.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Could be a pinched nerve, but I suspect bruising. I'd give all of your ducks some vitamin B (available at Walmart and TSC) because it's good for leg health and try some physical therapy in a tub of water. (Maybe add a drop of bleach to the water beforehand so that nothing can get into the wound. Epsom salt's good too.)

Good luck.

I add brewers yeast to their food. I can add a bit of extra for the next little bit to help with the healing. I dont know if mama has them swimming yet and i took away the tiny pond outside so it didn't get infected. It is moving much better outside with mama and siblings then inside alone. I am hopong to see it walking normal tomorrow or the next day. I can't imagine being so small and falling from a birds grasp. Scary and painful I'm sure.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I dont know if mama has them swimming yet and i took away the tiny pond outside so it didn't get infected.

Ducklings'll swim at a day old. I put out a tub of water for my last batch (hen-raised, so they're not headed down to the pond anytime soon,) just deep enough that they can get their heads under, but not deep enough that they can't have their toes on the ground and their heads above water. If you change the water every day, and add just a drop of bleach, it will kill the nasties in the water without harming the ducklings (think city water.)

Just a suggestion.

 

[CayugaJana]

If it’s with Momma, there probably isn’t a lot more that you can do.

Or you could bring two babies in the house while it recuperates. That way it has a friend, but isn’t so active and can rest? But that’s just an idea.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Ducklings'll swim at a day old. I put out a tub of water for my last batch (hen-raised, so they're not headed down to the pond anytime soon,) just deep enough that they can get their heads under, but not deep enough that they can't have their toes on the ground and their heads above water. If you change the water every day, and add just a drop of bleach, it will kill the nasties in the water without harming the ducklings (think city water.)

Just a suggestion.

The problem is the other ducks don't respect the baby pond and drink out of it whole eating so all kinds of nastiness in there.

 

[kesrchicky16]

If it’s with Momma, there probably isn’t a lot more that you can do.

Or you could bring two babies in the house while it recuperates. That way it has a friend, but isn’t so active and can rest? But that’s just an idea.

Its isnt hard for me to catch. I can bring it inside for treatment but i just dont know what to do or how long healing should take. She has been an amazing mama.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a video and pictures of it? To post a video, upload to youtube or vimeo then copy/paste the link here.

 

[kesrchicky16]

Can you post a video and pictures of it? To post a video, upload to youtube or vimeo then copy/paste the link here.

I will try to get pictures when i bring it it to assess the side wound tomorrow. For the time being if you imagine your hand as the duck foot it is walking on bone behind the one the nails are on with just the nails (claws) pointing behind. The toes spread out some when it walks this way but not to a full tension on the webbing. The knee and hip seem fine the dysfunction seems to be in the ankle amd when i hold it up the foot sitts fully relaxed in a hanging behind the leg and closed umbrella sort of way. There is no struggle or sign of pain when i move it like there was when we were bandaging the side. It seems to be a full breed runner as before the injury it and one other of the clutch could stand fully erect head and neck above its broodmates. I dont know if being light bodied makes for a possible better outlook.

 

[casportpony]

I'm really bad at imagining things and do much better with pictures.
This PDF explains how to check for fractures: