Muscovy with an injured leg

[Narrowhaven]

Hello bird friends! I am new to the group and new to ducks. Someone just gave me 3 muscovies (1 drake, 2 hens). One of the hens has an injured leg. She said that the person she got her from told her the duck had slipped on ice. But then when I went to pick up the ducks from my friends farm her daughter grabbed this poor girl by the legs and carried her upside down to me (to my horror...). I am sure this rough handling of the duck made the leg even worse. I have given her 2 days to settle into our pond and duck house with her tiny flock. She seems to be eating and drinking, and I have seen her in the pond once. She spends more time in the house than the others, but the weather has been cold and rainy (Ottawa, Ontario in early April). I tend toward a hands off approach, with the idea that intervening can sometimes make things worse. And because these ducks are new to us, I don't want to stress them even more than they have already been stressed with 2 moves in 3 days. I have read the threads here on broken duck legs. I haven't examined her closely (again, stress factor for her) but I have watched her closely and she isn't putting any weight on her leg at all. She just hops on her good leg when she ventures out.
Any suggestions for best approach?
Also wondering if it is really true that grabbing ducks by the legs and carrying them upside down is really the best way?? I find it hard to believe, but this is what they told me. I just carried them gently under my arm and they were fine (strong, but fine).
Thanks in advance!
I should also mention that we have chickens in a separate area and no other ducks, so the ducks are isolated without additional stressors.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Narrowhaven, and ! Great to have you aboard! First of all, love the Billy Idol and Billy Idol look alike avatar!
As to your duck's injury, you might want to post in the Ducks Forum below for expert advice: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks
And my two cents on carrying ducks by the legs would be that that would NOT be the way to do it!
I found a single old thread under the search parameters 'how to carry a duck' - here's that link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/973731/how-to-carry-a-duck
Here is also a link to some informative duck articles: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/256233/ducks-sticky-topics-index
Best wishes to your Muscovy and thanks for joining BYC!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry about your duck's leg. Definitely post in our Ducks section for more help with this. Lots of knowledgeable members in our ducks forums.

Good luck and I hope you can heal her up soon!

 

[N F C]

So sorry to hear about the girl's hurt leg, I wouldn't imagine carry a duck upside down by it's legs to be a good practice (but I've never raised ducks). I sure hope the duck forum pros can help you to help her.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Narrowhaven

Welcome!

I also love your avatar!

Sorry that I have no experience with ducks, just chickens but the folks on the Duck Forum should be able to help you out.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[drumstick diva]

I have never read here of folks carrying ducks by their legs, I guess people just do what's easiest for them. Poor birds must feel they are being attacked for headed for an ax. If the bird struggled to get away I would think it easily could get a broken leg, or dislocation. You could post on the "emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures," thread as well as the "duck threads."