I injured my duck!!

[saxonyduck]

Since my two males were killed my single female has gotten a lot more attention (and wants and needs a lot more). I was inspired by all the cool photos of people holding their ducks - especially the pictures of Nettie's duck Victor on her back. So I tried it with Joey a few times. She didn't love it but tolerated it. On Saturday we tried it again and I was holding her left foot/leg in towards her body b/c she was kicking. Not more than 2-3 minutes because I don't want to traumatize her. But when I put her down she was limping on her left leg! I've been putting her in her pen for longer periods but she'll go for a short period and not limp, then suddenly her leg will give out and she'll lurch over to that side. She's swimming beautifully, can use her leg quite a bit of the time - but it looks like it is almost shaking when she tries to put full weight on it. There isn't any swelling or redness or obvious break and her legs are perfectly symmetric. Did I somehow pinch a nerve? Will it get better? Does she need a duck chiropractor?

She's in a good humor though - this is her this morning in one of her pools. Still laying, eating, wanting to get mated, chatting.

 

[newduckie]

had the same problem with a duck. I don't think I did it, but had the same symptoms. I tried several things... bandaging, splint... keeping her locked up and nothing helped. Ended up putting her on the pond and she lived there till some wild animal got her. Hope you have better luck.

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

Oh no! I am sure you didn't mean to hurt her, but duck legs are so fragile!

Not sure what she could of done, but probably the only was of finding out the damage would be X rays...

We have a Pekin named Quackers. When she was a duckling, she either didn't get enough nutrients in her egg or she tried to jump out of the brooder, or combo of both. Whatever happened, her legs got severely deformed. Her joints have had so much pressure on them that they are enlarged and swollen somewhat, and her feet are pointed inwards....

I ordered her Brewer's Yeast on the internet. Suppose to be good for their joints and bones. It should be here tomorrow!!

 

[Chosen Chickens]

Quote:
LOL.... I am actually a chiropractor in real life... but not a duck one!! I had to laugh when I saw that. Believe it or not there are animal chiropractors but they mainly deal with larger animals like race horses and others where a lot of money is involved... probably not a spine/pelvis issue and not a pinched nerve... probably just a sprain/strain to the joints in the leg and the poor thing needs time to recover

 

[rainplace]

Swim therapy will probably be the best bet if it's just a strain. It may take quite a while for her to get back to normal use.

I think they need to put ducks under in order to x-ray, and unless it's critical, I don't think that is recommended.