Muscovy duckling suddenly can't walk

[FL Zoo Mom]

I'm going to the big Publix today so hopefully, they'll have what I need. If not, there's a GNC right next to it. I will be successful.

I moved him from the bathroom to the hallway with a puppy pen around him so that my little dogs can't bother him. I want to be able to keep a better eye on him and make sure he's still eating and drinking the way he should. I have him wrapped in a towel and his food and water bowls right by him so he can eat and drink whenever he feels like it and he's doing well with that.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

I was wondering a few things. Should I move the swimming container outside so his Momma can see him and he can see her once in a while? If he starts to recover quickly do you think it's possible that Momma will take him back or is he destined to be cared for by me until he grows up?

I had planned on picking up a kiddie pool on Wednesday for the ducklings even before this happened so they can swim and work on their waterproofing since they can't safely go into the canal yet. Maybe I just wait until then to take him outside swimming a couple times a day?

I know I should be focusing on right now but until my daughter gets home with my car there's not a lot for me to do other than watch him sleep, eat, and drink. And worry about things that have to do with him.

Also, I was reading that B vitamins are water soluble and will lose their effectiveness in water after something like 24 hours. Obviously, the little guy won't be drinking a gallon of water a day so I'll give the excess to the outside ducks if this is true.

The plan as it stands right now is to get some brewer's yeast and a bottle of B-complex capsules. Brewer's yeast for the food and the capsules for the water. Does that sound right?

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

We have definite improvement today!

I put him in the bathtub last night for bed because it's the warmest room in the house and because I wouldn't have to worry about one of my cats getting to him while I was asleep. Also, clean up is much easier. Anyway, I got up this morning and he was all the way on the other side of the bathtub. OK, not exciting because it could have taken him a while and lots of scooches to get there. When he saw me he started chirping and trying to walk. He's not walking yet, but he's moving around great. It's almost a crab walk because his legs aren't straightening all the way out but he's definitely much more mobile! I set him down in his pen and got him fresh food and water and he crab walked over to his food and water when I set it down. He ate and then crab walked away from his bowls. He's gone back and forth several times to eat and move away from his bowls.

This is so awesome! I mean, obviously we have a ways to go but this is so great!

 

[Amiga]

Is he splay legged? What is in the bottom of the tub?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

That's great!!

Thanks for the update.

You asked a couple of other questions that I wanted to respond to:
Q: Should I move the swimming container outside so his Momma can see him and he can see her once in a while?
A: Sure, he'd probably enjoy seeing other ducks, just ensure no one can get to him. While he enjoys it, he doesn't absolutely have to swim right now, he just needs a container of water deep enough to blow out his nostrils (nares) but not so deep he could fall in and drown. I've used a plastic container like a small sour cream container with a semicircular hole cut in it so the ducklings could drink and clear their nares but not get their whole bodies into it.
Q: If he starts to recover quickly do you think it's possible that Momma will take him back or is he destined to be cared for by me until he grows up?
A: Honestly, I don't think the chances are great that he'll be able to go back to his mom - ducks will pick on other ducks with differences and I don't know how accepting they would be even if he's completely normal. The only way to really know is to try a closely-supervised reintegration and be prepared to extricate him quickly, if needed. You'll get a better sense for the feasibility as you assess his improvement over time.

Looking forward to hearing more good news about his progress!

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

There was a towel folded in half in the bottom of the tub but he walked off that and ended up on the bare tub. When he saw me he moved back to the towel and waited for me to pick him up. I didn't cover the whole bottom of the tub last night because he wasn't moving around much and I didn't figure he'd make it off the towel.

He doesn't look splay-legged, just that his legs aren't straightening out all the way when he walks. Now that he's in his pen I have an old blanket on the floor to absorb any liquids and to give him traction.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

That's great!!

Thanks for the update.

You asked a couple of other questions that I wanted to respond to:
Q: Should I move the swimming container outside so his Momma can see him and he can see her once in a while?
A: Sure, he'd probably enjoy seeing other ducks, just ensure no one can get to him. While he enjoys it, he doesn't absolutely have to swim right now, he just needs a container of water deep enough to blow out his nostrils (nares) but not so deep he could fall in and drown. I've used a plastic container like a small sour cream container with a semicircular hole cut in it so the ducklings could drink and clear their nares but not get their whole bodies into it.
Q: If he starts to recover quickly do you think it's possible that Momma will take him back or is he destined to be cared for by me until he grows up?
A: Honestly, I don't think the chances are great that he'll be able to go back to his mom - ducks will pick on other ducks with differences and I don't know how accepting they would be even if he's completely normal. The only way to really know is to try a closely-supervised reintegration and be prepared to extricate him quickly, if needed. You'll get a better sense for the feasibility as you assess his improvement over time.

Looking forward to hearing more good news about his progress!

He enjoys swimming and I think the water therapy is probably good for his legs so I'll probably continue that. When I put him in the water yesterday he made lots of happy duckling noises. It's deep enough that he can touch bottom but doesn't need to stand to support himself. At least until he gets tired and starts sinking because he's not waterproof yet.

I have a large puppy pen I can use to let him out in the yard safely and keep him separate from the other ducks/ducklings so I'll evaluate that when he gets better. For now, I'm just going to be happy with his improvement.

 

[Amiga]

There was a towel folded in half in the bottom of the tub but he walked off that and ended up on the bare tub. When he saw me he moved back to the towel and waited for me to pick him up. I didn't cover the whole bottom of the tub last night because he wasn't moving around much and I didn't figure he'd make it off the towel.

He doesn't look splay-legged, just that his legs aren't straightening out all the way when he walks. Now that he's in his pen I have an old blanket on the floor to absorb any liquids and to give him traction.

Thanks for the details - not being there, I always worry that I'll miss an important helpful detail. Sounds like some good news there!

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

No problem. I'm amazed at the difference in less than two days and I'm so glad I heard him so I could try to help him. I would have been so sad to find him dead or dying the next day.

 

[FL Zoo Mom]

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.