Limping Duckling

[jennyman]

Hello Again,

Very much a new duck owner. One of my ducks started limping yesterday. There are no marks on her feet, nothing to indicate an injury. She is eating and drinking water and enjoying swims but is having trouble moving around. Her diet includes Mazuri feed cut down with oats. I have given her some Save-A-Chick. I'm not sure what to do for her

 

[Miss Lydia]

You don’t have to cut her feed. Mazuri is made to have just what they need in nutrients. @Magnolia Ducks. As for the limp they can easily get a sprain so rest and water therapy are both good for this and poultry vitamins . What age and breed of ducks please. Make sure they have an easy way to get in an out of the pool too.

 

[jennyman]

Oh! I thought you have to cut down the starter feed after so many weeks for the protein level. We have five ducklings (Rouen, Blue Swedish, Black Swedish and Buff-this is the one with the limp). They are 4.5 weeks old. Should I separate her and put her in a smaller area? Or just let her rest and continue with baths?

 

[Miss Lydia]

It’s hard to separate them since they are so closely bonded. I’d not let her be running all over a large area though. Water therapy is so good for them because it takes the weight off their legs and strengthens the leg muscles. You could even have one with a niacin deficiency. Even when on a good quality water fowl feed we can have one show a deficiency. I still use Nutritional yeast in my adults feed since it’s so good for them. Here is some info on Niacin deficiency. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

I use Mazuri starter till they are fully feathered. The extra protein can go into growing those feathers. I feed Mazuri maintenance diet to the adults or you could switch over to Purina duck pellets. I'm not fussed about extra protien.

 

[jennyman]

So she is still limping. It seems to have gotten worst. At what point would you recommend going to the vet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have one that will see her by all means go they can examine and give meds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Any update?

 

[jennyman]

She is still limping though not as bad and is more willing to put pressure on it. We are heading to the vet tomorrow. Thank you for all the help. I am a nervous new duck owner!

 

[StPaulieGirls]

One of our ducklings (4 weeks) is limping today, too, so I'm curious to see what you learn from the vet. Best wishes to you and your duck.