Joining the Duck Side

[ihatedarkroast]

I finally caught the ducks and shoved them through the pop door into the yard one at a time. They were stinking up the henhouse so bad. Now outside they seem a lot happier and are doing ducky things like grooming, flapping, and tail wagging. In the henhouse they just cowered so this is way better. They seem less frightened of me too after i tossed a couple handfuls of cracked corn. Yesterday i gave them spring salad mix that was marked down at the grocery store. Hopefully they will start seeing me as the walking feeder instead of a terrifying duck theif. Lol.

I noticed today the male is possibly limping and prefers to sit rather than stand. He's the one with the pale flesh colored beak. I am waiting for the b vitamins to arrive. I hope he improves but i will have to watch and see if its a leg problem or if he's just obese while giving him vitamins over the next few weeks. I need to weigh him but he looks like he's possibly 12 lbs. XD

 

[Miss Lydia]

Did you check the bottom of his foot for bumble?

 

[CoriM]

I agree with @Miss Lydia, probably should check all their feet for bumble to make sure they're okay.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

Did you check the bottom of his foot for bumble?

ok i will see if i can take a look

 

[ihatedarkroast]

ok i will see if i can take a look

Did you check the bottom of his foot for bumble?

Did you check the bottom of his foot for bumble?

Ok I found a small boil indeed on one foot. But the main problem seems to be a knee or hock injury on the opposite leg. It is swollen, hot and soft to the touch. But the swelling has no scab, no scar, no pus on that foot at all. Wow. I wish I had noticed when I purchased the duck it was injured. It was dark and there was a lot of chasing and flapping so I couldnt tell. I'm definitely not buying from these folks again. If anyone has any suggestions, please share them... I researched a little and I'm thinking maybe slipped tendon or hock deterioration from age and obesity or lack of niacin but the heat and swelling mean infection. :/ Treatment seems to be long and complex with weeks of antibiotics and it might not even work. I'm now thinking we may have to cull and our chicken coop will just be drake free afterall.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is def swollen. I wonder if there was alot of chasing if he didn't get injured then.
Of course he may have had this injury for a while. I'm very sorry I would say to try using warm Epsom salt compresses or soaks[don't let him drink the water] and liquid B Complex since Pekins are known to have leg issues they grow so fast. Rest, Epsom salt compresses/soaks and liquid B Complex. As for bumble the soaks and compresses can help there too. Drawing salve.
I rec giving him a chance before you cull.
Of course always up to you.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

That is def swollen. I wonder if there was alot of chasing if he didn't get injured then.
Of course he may have had this injury for a while. I'm very sorry I would say to try using warm Epsom salt compresses or soaks[don't let him drink the water] and liquid B Complex since Pekins are known to have leg issues they grow so fast. Rest, Epsom salt compresses/soaks and liquid B Complex. As for bumble the soaks and compresses can help there too. Drawing salve.
I rec giving him a chance before you cull.
Of course always up to you.

When they put the drake in the dog kennel in the back of my car, it lay down immediately and did not move much. So I noticed all the other ducks were on their feet but him. I've only had it two days. It's acted the same throughout, so I think it was injured previously. These people had a hundred or more ducks and they were the property of a family member who passed away, so I don't think they were receiving the attention they needed.
Well, I think my husband would prefer to cull. For one thing, he wants to be sure the drake is not related to the ducks. For another, he really really wants some duck butter to cook with. Anyway, it's my bad for not noticing before I purchased and drove off with the poor thing. I have learned a lot about bumble foot and niacin in the process though. So I'll do my best to care for everyone!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m very sorry.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

I checked the feet of the other ducks. Of the three, one duck had bumble sores. They were not inflamed enough to squeeze cores out of. So I put poultry wound care salve on them and wrapped her heels in duct tape. (I'm going to have to check the chickens feet too, now that I know what bumble foot is.)

I also finally got some proper duck pellets and nutritional yeast. I started the ladies on those. One of the ducks seems to be rather bow-legged. She appears to be getting around find, but I hope it helps her out.

We processed the drake. He will be roasted with orange and ginger slices. I think I'll wait until the spring to get a new drake/flock sire. Or just go with an all-female flock and eat the eggs.

 

[ihatedarkroast]

first eggs! Got two ofem this morning! I knew they were bigger than chicken eggs but my goodness! Fried them up and they were so buttery and rich. Maybe duck eggs are what ive been missing all my life lol.

Oh, and my Pekin ladies are now free ranging happily, bobbing in a laundry tub, and go in the coop at night...as long as I leave a light on in there. They come back out if I flip the light off. still progress tho.

Oddly enough, my #2 rooster follows them around and seems to have adopted them as his flock. No mating behavior but I guess he is happier there than being constantly chased off the hens by the head roo.