If you had a duck with a crack in the bottom of her foot............

[jmc]

Would you bring her in and put her in a little cage and treat her for a few?

OR, would you 'risk' it and let her stay out and assume/hope it will heal okay?

I have already done the latter with success.

The birds are Campbells (ie, pretty skittish) so I'd like to avoid having to bring them in if possible.

But I don't want any infections! I just had to put down a bird because a foot infection went systemic.

So experts in duck world, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

 

[classroomducks]

I am far from an expert. But...

My babies developed cracks/sores on their feet.

And the discussion led to a decided niacin deficiency. I added brewers yeast to their food and a couple of doses of neosporin (no pain killer) on their feets and they are looking much better. It has only been about 4 days of brewers yeast but they are looking better already. Hope that helps...Good luck.

 

[Wifezilla]

I would use a liquid bandage type material. I separated out a khaki once for a leg injury and being separated really did not help. She died.

 

[Dances with Ducks]

I've delt with bumble foot a few times, probably not serious cases but they were limping. I would sterlize their feet with an iodine based disinfectant and apply a triple biotic ointment two to three times a day. I kept them in a small pen within the larger duck pen and changed their bedding a lot. They had a basin of water they could float in. I didn't want to separate them from the other ducks, but the small pen limited their ability to pace. With their flock close by they seemed content to sit down enough to let their sores heal. I did lock them up with the other ducks at night because they can't run around much in their small duckhouse. It seems to me that even if the neosporin rubs off, enough has soaked in to have the necessary effect. They would completely heal up within 48 hours if not in half that time.

Edited to add: I think a similiar treatment if you felt it was serious enough would also work for a crack in her foot.

 

[Bossroo]

Is this a cut, swollen area due to an injury? I would catch her , clean the affected area with water, then pour on some hydrogen peroxide ( a mild disinfectant). If it fizes, there is an infection. Then treat it with an antibiotic. Since all cuts or open wounds, or swollen area need to be out of potential contaminated areas, I would then place her in your handy dandy new isolation crate just off the ground to keep the foot out of dirt and other crud. Keep her crate in the pen with shelter where she is in contact with her penmates untill the area is healed. This should keep her more content and if necessary, easier to handle when additional treatment is needed.

 

[veronicasmom]

How is bumblefoot caused? Poor footing, wire cages? Is it something that is more common in ducklings?

 

[jmc]

thank you all.

 

[CityChicker]

Bumble foot is very common in ducks. It can be a result of being on a hard surface, being in mud, or probably multiple other reasons.

All cracks on the bottom of the feet are not Bumble foot though. Some amount of cracking is normal. I think it is just a natural consequence of being an animal that is frequently in mud/water. It can also be a result of a dietary deficiency. A modest amount of cracking with no excessively swollen ares or scabs though is not a cause for concern in my opinion. If there are swollen areas, scabs, or several substantial cracks, I would then definitely separate the bird and do some of the things already suggested. Provide frequently changed swimming water and dry bedding as well.

 

[nettie]

i finally got my neoprene yesterday and made my first pair of duck shoes for my duck ming mei who is getting over another case of bumblefoot. the shoes work pretty good and would work well for an outdoor duck. Ming mei, though inside, lives in a pen like any other duck that has pellets for bedding. I only sequester my ducks if i need them to stay still and not walk around. After ming mei had surgery, i had to sepertare her. The shoes add cushion to the sore foot and it helps keep bandages on. I'll get a picture of ming mei in a little bit and post a topic about making some for sale...

I also made a little cage out of a big plastic tub. i cut out a window from the front and glues in a piece of plexi glass and kept it near my other healthy duck... that way the sequestered duck could see her friend and not be too upset. I also used the tubs as brooders. (once my store on my webpage is up and running, i'll be selling those too).

 

[TrystInn]

How's the Niacin levels in the feed?