Lame Duck

[3cousinsfarm]

I have a Jumbo Pekin Drake who just came up lame yesterday. Barely using his right foot or leg. I picked him up and saw no visible damage. I've read that Jumbo's can have leg problems. I know no reason he should be limping except perhaps genetic deficiency or maybe hurt himself getting in or out of the baby pool. (We've added "steps" inside and out now.)

Right now I have him and one smaller female in isolation...didn't want to stress him further by putting him in there alone. I have food and a smimmable, drinkable tub in there with him, low profile for easy in/out. He is about 5 months old (just developing a drake feather) and his diet consists of poultry crumbles (just a little), scratch feed, all the worms, mosquitoes, ticks and whatever else he can catch, a few meal worms, grass, appropriate veggies like lettuce and such.

All around, my ducks are healthy and happy. I secure them at night and they free range all day long. Someone on a facebook forum mentioned giving him a Vitamin B shot, others said Niacin.

Any more ideas? Anything I'm not doing that I COULD do for him?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

mentioned giving him a Vitamin B shot, others said Niacin.

Niacin is B3. And highly important for ducks. Jumbo Pekin need even more than the average duck.

Brewers yeast or nutritional yeast are often used to supplement.

Hadn't heard of anyone using a B injection yet.. but it's an interesting idea.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Hi - I actually saw your post on the FB page but am not on FB so I couldn't respond. x2 on the suggestions about increasing B vitamins (like using this B complex) in case it is deficiency-related. Have you also checked the bottom of his affected foot? When I had a Pekin drake - also free range - he developed a bumble that manifested first as a limp, and (anecdotally, at least) it seems like Pekins may be predisposed to getting them.

Hope your boy is feeling better soon!

 

[DuckyDonna]

Go to Tractor Supply and get some B-complex, $16.99 at my store. Give him 1 ml over something like a treat you know he will gobble right up about 3 x a day. You will find it in the cattle dept. and the bottle looks like the picture below. They are the same, just a different label. It says "injectable" but give it orally. That should help him improve.

 

[3cousinsfarm]

Hey everyone. I called the Vet for my lame duck, Moby Duck. I had checked already for bumble foot and that wasn't it and I tried giving vitamins and that didn't help. SO, vet said he had inflammation and infection in his leg/joint, something. It was swollen and hot. So, he dosed him up with two kinds of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pills he crushed up and put in saline. Also, at my request gave him vitamin b/Niacin shot. Dr. said that he should show improvement soon. I am to give him the meds orally until gone. That was about 3 p.m. yesterday. Went back to let them out this morning and he was significantly better already. I'd say 25% improvement overnight. Oh, and vet said to soak his foot in an epsom salts bath. I'm trying to think of a creative way to do that without having to hold him down for 15 minutes in a tub of water...I'll figure something out. But anyway, he was already back in his leadership position (the other ducks can't hardly figure out how to get out of their pen when I open it lol.) So he is on the mend. Oh, and the doctor did not think it was a vitamin deficiency. He said what I am feeding them, PLUS mainly the fact that they are free range and get fruits and veggies is giving them all the nutrients they need. He also looked around and said my set-up was ideal for my poultry. We discussed what may have caused the sore leg and agreed it was probably twisted when he tried to get in or out of the baby pool. I have since put stepping stones on the outside and inside to give him and the others a "leg" up!

 

[3cousinsfarm]

Go to Tractor Supply and get some B-complex, $16.99 at my store. Give him 1 ml over something like a treat you know he will gobble right up about 3 x a day. You will find it in the cattle dept. and the bottle looks like the picture below. They are the same, just a different label. It says "injectable" but give it orally. That should help him improve.
View attachment 1802048

My tractor supply did not have any. I looked there.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds lime he’s on the right track to recovery. Glad you got him to the vet! B complex does work to strengthen muscles so hopefully the shot of B will help too. Thanks for updating.