My duckling has a deformed leg?!

[Sprout_Garden]

I had seven ducklings hatch today and one of them has a severely deformed looking leg her leg goes up behind behind her wing is there anything I can do for her? She is a saxony Khaki Campbell cross could the size difference be the problem?

 

[Callender Girl]

Maybe @Miss Lydia has some advice? She's been a godsend for me when I've had duck issues. Best wishes for your baby.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

When born deformed not much you can do. However, I'd start offering nutritional yeast sprinkled on their feed. It will be beneficial to all of your ducklings and keep their legs strong.
Providing swimming water once old enough will help as well. As a duckling, they can be in water of course, but not for too long and make sure they are dried off afterwards due to not having feathers yet.
She will probably get along ok, but be observant for any bullying from the rest of her duckling pals.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

@Magnolia Ducks maybe you have some advice? I saw on another thread that you have a duckling with a club foot.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Better pictures may help us. So the leg isn't attached to the body in a normal position? or the leg just won't sit in a normal position?
I agree with putting your ducklings on niacin, Nutritional yeast is a good one since it's natural. 1Tb per cup of feed offered.
Make sure any swimming water is nice and warm. Just start off in the sink and make sure to stay close they can launch themselves right out.

 

[EmmaGRS]

Hello, I have a duck with a similar if not same issue. I hatched him and his leg is deformed, pressed up against his body and he can’t move it from the joint down. He’s now several months old and he lives happily. I tried what people suggested as I had posted it here too, I put supplements in his water and added niacin in his food. Nothing improved it. I had tried looking for a vet or something too, but found nothing. Thankfully, he’s lived through it though he just can’t walk on his leg. He hops around but he’s a happy healthy duck. Here’s what mine looked like the day he hatched.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I had a duckling that hatched with sever curled toe and couldn't use her leg. I did b complex orally, water therapy and used painters tape to make a boot. I cut about a 3" piece of painters tape and laid the foot flat on the sticky side and wrapped the tape up and over gently pressing the sides running the boot up mid leg. I changed the boot daily and after about a week she was running with the others and didn't need a boot. This is what her legs and feet looked like by 6 months.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I had a duckling that hatched with sever curled toe and couldn't use her leg. I did b complex orally, water therapy and used painters tape to make a boot. I cut about a 3" piece of painters tape and laid the foot flat on the sticky side and wrapped the tape up and over gently pressing the sides running the boot up mid leg. I changed the boot daily and after about a week she was running with the others and didn't need a boot. This is what her legs and feet looked like by 6 months.
View attachment 2924584

That's amazing!

 

[Sprout_Garden]

Hello, I have a duck with a similar if not same issue. I hatched him and his leg is deformed, pressed up against his body and he can’t move it from the joint down. He’s now several months old and he lives happily. I tried what people suggested as I had posted it here too, I put supplements in his water and added niacin in his food. Nothing improved it. I had tried looking for a vet or something too, but found nothing. Thankfully, he’s lived through it though he just can’t walk on his leg. He hops around but he’s a happy healthy duck. Here’s what mine looked like the day he hatched. View attachment 2924581

That looks just like mine I am glad to here they survived that is such a relief.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

@Magnolia Ducks maybe you have some advice? I saw on another thread that you have a duckling with a club foot.

I do it was completely curled under and she was walking on top of it. I massaged it and it turned over by itself. I ended up not shoeing her because her bones it that foot don't feel right. In fact, they feel missing. Her foot has spread out today and she's getting around better. I think its a birth defect from being incubated at too low a temp. I think for a fueled leg I would try hobbleing. I use a hair s crunchie for this, twisted in the middle. I would wait 48 hours first cause sometimes these thing are malpositioning in the egg and work themselves out. After 48 hours, I would try to treat. If not treated in first week, it will surely always be this way. Even with treatment may not change. My duckling is always going to be off, but seems happy and healthy and the others are not picking on her.