Mallard tail curved toward ground

[Mowglimommychick]

We have some hatchery produced mallard females. One has suddenly started to curve her tail downward when she walks and lies down every time the group of them stop walking. she's wasting and behaving normally, and she can hold her tail up and shake it but I can't figure out the cause. She also had trouble with climbing in the kiddie pool. See photos. You will see the duck with tail down and tail normal. When walking it is always down. Any ideas of what might be going on? I do not see any injuries. She's about 7 weeks old.

 

[Abraeri]

From what you've described I'd suspect leg problems, but I'm surprised she is not limping. Usually they hold their tail down when they cannot walk.

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

You said they were ducks, three of them look like drakes to me. The one preening in the back looks like a duck and I’m not sure with that black one. Can you get some more photos of them?

 

[Mowglimommychick]

From what you've described I'd suspect leg problems, but I'm surprised she is not limping. Usually they hold their tail down when they cannot walk.

I think you're probably right. She's hobbling some. I give Brewer's yeast with food but maybe not enough?

 

[Mowglimommychick]

You said they were ducks, three of them look like drakes to me. The one preening in the back looks like a duck and I’m not sure with that black one. Can you get some more photos of them?

I have 4 black cayugas and 5 mallards. They all came sexed by the hatchery so they are all female. It's not a great picture.

 

[Lil Drake40]

I would give BComplex to her once the are showing symptoms it’s time for a stronger dose of b vitamins. Go to Walmart get human b complex liquid or TSC and get cattle b complex. 1ml of the cattle orally or 2-3 ml of the human its less concentrated. If it’s niacin deficiency should see results pretty quick. Also check the bottom of her feet for cuts swelling or infection

 

[Quacking Pigeon]

I have 4 black cayugas and 5 mallards. They all came sexed by the hatchery so they are all female. It's not a great picture.

Out of the four mallards in the photo 3 look like drakes because of there dark tail. Also hatcherys can get it wrong.
Here’s a photo of one of my Mallard drakes in eclipse moult (similar to juvenile plumage):

 

[The Chicken-Boy]

Can you look at the bottoms of her feet? Some of mine have gotten small rocks of clumps of dirt stuck in between their toes on the underside of thier feet which made them uncomfortable, but not very lame.