Muscovy duckling suddenly can't walk

[FoodFreedomNow]

So, guess who woke me up yelling this morning?  I thought that was a good sign but was rather amazed when I went into the bathroom to move him from the tub to his hallway pen.  The little guy was running all over the bathtub to get away from me!  And the mess....  Whooweee.

He's clearly feeling much better and he's able to walk pretty well.  I think another day or two and he'll be back to 100%. He's standing while he eats and walking back and forth to his food and water bowls.  He's also not impressed with me or the other animals in the house and he's grooming himself more. 

I put his swimming "pool" outside yesterday and let him swim for a bit.  I was able to see how he and the other ducks and ducklings interact and it gives me a little bit of hope that his Momma might take him back.  He and his siblings were very happy to see each other and his momma seemed happy to see him.  Mister (the drake), on the other hand, was very suspicious.  He stood stock still eyeing him while he swam and while the other ducks were interacting with him.  The little guy climbed out of the pool and went sprawling on the deck doing the half walk he was doing yesterday and Mister got very close and tried to peck him.  I scooped him up and got him back inside before he could be hurt.  I can't figure it out if Mister just doesn't like the "new" addition or if he didn't want him around because he's obviously not well.

Today I'll put the little guy out by his pool with a puppy pen around the pool so he can interact with the other ducks (supervised) and get some swimming in.

In other news, I've come to the conclusion that they'll very much enjoy a kiddie pool.  The ducklings had a great swim after I took the little guy in and Momma really enjoyed being able to swim and used the time to groom herself.  I know muscovies aren't water obsessed like some ducks, but she can't swim at all right now because if she goes in the water her ducklings will follow her and they won't be able to get out of the canal.  There's no other water source in the area that will allow her to dunk her head.

Hooray for his improvement!! It's good that you're keeping an eye on the adult drake, too - I've heard they can be aggressive with ducklings, and ducks in general (applies to chickens, too) seem to pick on others who are different.

My Muscovies, ducklings, juveniles, and adults, love the water. They share 3 pools: one big plastic swimming pool (maybe a foot and a half deep) and two of the small plastic kiddie wading pools. They wait impatiently for the pools to be filled in the morning, and splash, paddle, jump in and out, and just generally have a lot of fun in them all day. The pools get pretty heavy use, so they're dumped at least once a day (twice when it's really hot). In the winter when it's too cold for pools, they get heavy rubber tubs. What do those ducks do, even when it's so cold the water freezes into a sheet on top? Jump in. They swim whenever and wherever they can. Provide water and they'll take to it like...well, you know the saying.

Before I got ducks, I did a lot of research, and someone with ducks helpfully told me they were really messy. That was a serious understatement. Between the water messes (including dipping their food into the water) and the projectile pooping, they're a clean freak's nightmare. Once you get over it, though, they're fascinating animals and excellent for a homestead. And they produce lots of fertilizer! lol

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

I love having these ducks around. They are very messy but a quick spray down with the hose on the deck is usually good to clean the mess if the rain doesn't take care of it. The worst was when they discovered that they could hang out in the covered area between my back door and the laundry room when it rains. Besides the surprise of stepping outside and into poo, my cat is scared of them so when they were there she'd hide under a metal shelving unit I have out there, plus they'd eat the cat food from her bowl. I have that area blocked off now, but they come right up to it every time I step outside because they're looking for food. I only give them some food in the morning and they're on their own for the rest of the day so they're required to forage. I don't want them to be super dependent on me just in case something happens and I have to leave here.

Momma and Mister will both eat out of my hand which is really cool but now that the ducklings are here I don't do that because I don't want the ducklings to become too trusting of humans, although that doesn't seem to be a problem. Even the little one inside isn't trusting, but I've been making it a point not to hold him or touch him any more than necessary. They know I'm the food lady but they're not looking to be my friend.

Mister is actually pretty good with the ducklings. He makes sure he eats first but other than that he's always there with Momma and he never picks with them.

It'll be warm enough here year round for a pool so I'll probably get the bigger of the kiddie wading pools. I have no idea if the babies will stick around after they're grown but the adults should like having it around and then it'll be there the next time Momma has babies. I also have a fairly large dog house that I was thinking about bringing out of storage and putting in the bushes for them for protection from the rain. It's plastic and the top comes off so it'd be easy to clean. I'm not sure about that yet, though. I don't want unnecessary chores but it might keep them from hanging out under my patio table to stay dry.

Here are a couple of pictures I took about a week ago.

It's the food lady!



Your toes look tasty!

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

I have him outside in a small puppy pen with his pool. He started calling as soon as I picked him up and then upped the volume when we got outside.

Momma came running! I'm guessing she still recognizes his voice because one day we had some other ducklings from a different duck in distress (they had fallen in the canal) and she didn't budge. As soon as he saw her he quieted right down. Now Momma and babies are all hanging out by him and he's much happier. One of his siblings is sitting next to the pen helping him groom himself. It's so adorable.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I love having these ducks around. They are very messy but a quick spray down with the hose on the deck is usually good to clean the mess if the rain doesn't take care of it. The worst was when they discovered that they could hang out in the covered area between my back door and the laundry room when it rains. Besides the surprise of stepping outside and into poo, my cat is scared of them so when they were there she'd hide under a metal shelving unit I have out there, plus they'd eat the cat food from her bowl. I have that area blocked off now, but they come right up to it every time I step outside because they're looking for food. I only give them some food in the morning and they're on their own for the rest of the day so they're required to forage. I don't want them to be super dependent on me just in case something happens and I have to leave here. Momma and Mister will both eat out of my hand which is really cool but now that the ducklings are here I don't do that because I don't want the ducklings to become too trusting of humans, although that doesn't seem to be a problem. Even the little one inside isn't trusting, but I've been making it a point not to hold him or touch him any more than necessary. They know I'm the food lady but they're not looking to be my friend. Mister is actually pretty good with the ducklings. He makes sure he eats first but other than that he's always there with Momma and he never picks with them. It'll be warm enough here year round for a pool so I'll probably get the bigger of the kiddie wading pools. I have no idea if the babies will stick around after they're grown but the adults should like having it around and then it'll be there the next time Momma has babies. I also have a fairly large dog house that I was thinking about bringing out of storage and putting in the bushes for them for protection from the rain. It's plastic and the top comes off so it'd be easy to clean. I'm not sure about that yet, though. I don't want unnecessary chores but it might keep them from hanging out under my patio table to stay dry. Here are a couple of pictures I took about a week ago. It's the food lady! Your toes look tasty!

That's a very nice-looking family! Just beware...they can really get a good hold of your toes.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have him outside in a small puppy pen with his pool. He started calling as soon as I picked him up and then upped the volume when we got outside. Momma came running! I'm guessing she still recognizes his voice because one day we had some other ducklings from a different duck in distress (they had fallen in the canal) and she didn't budge. As soon as he saw her he quieted right down. Now Momma and babies are all hanging out by him and he's much happier. One of his siblings is sitting next to the pen helping him groom himself. It's so adorable.

It sounds promising that his family recognizes him and hangs around. It would really be great if they could reunite! Fervently hoping his leg issue resolves very soon. Looks like Momma is a chocolate Muscovy? I have a soft spot for them - mine are chocolates, too.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

It sounds promising that his family recognizes him and hangs around. It would really be great if they could reunite! Fervently hoping his leg issue resolves very soon.

Looks like Momma is a chocolate Muscovy? I have a soft spot for them - mine are chocolates, too.

The baby is back outside with his family. They welcomed him back with no problems and even Mister has been his normal self with him. The little guy was so happy to rejoin his siblings and his mom and the feeling appears to be mutual. I'm still keeping a very close eye on him and the rest of the babies and I'll continue to give them the vitamins in their water and the brewer's yeast in their feed.

Momma does look like a chocolate and Mister has gorgeous emerald green feathers that shine in the sun.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

The baby is back outside with his family.  They welcomed him back with no problems and even Mister has been his normal self with him.  The little guy was so happy to rejoin his siblings and his mom and the feeling appears to be mutual.  I'm still keeping a very close eye on him and the rest of the babies and I'll continue to give them the vitamins in their water and the brewer's yeast in their feed.  

Momma does look like a chocolate and Mister has gorgeous emerald green feathers that shine in the sun.

Wonderful news! Congratulations.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

I have all of you that took the time to answer my questions to thank!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I have all of you that took the time to answer my questions to thank!  

I think many of us are just "paying it forward", having received advice and help, ourselves, from others here. I hope your little friend remembers your kindness and lives a long and happy life!