My duckling has a sore foot !!

[anyquack]

Last week I had got six 5 day old ducklings. Two of them being Khaki Campbell ducklings and four of them being Pekin ducklings. Yesterday I had one of the Pekin ducklings out to show a friend of mine, she was walking on the ground nicely and wasn't showing any limpness what so ever! But as I was putting her back in to her pen I noticed that she wasn't putting any pressure on her right foot and just lying there. She does limp across the pen if she tries to walk but other than that she does very little movement and her foot is all curled up. Please would someone be able to help me out with my wee duckling as I hate to see her in distress and not running around with her other duckling friends.

 

[Kaessa]

Last week I had got six 5 day old ducklings. Two of them being Khaki Campbell ducklings and four of them being Pekin ducklings. Yesterday I had one of the Pekin ducklings out to show a friend of mine, she was walking on the ground nicely and wasn't showing any limpness what so ever! But as I was putting her back in to her pen I noticed that she wasn't putting any pressure on her right foot and just lying there. She does limp across the pen if she tries to walk but other than that she does very little movement and her foot is all curled up. Please would someone be able to help me out with my wee duckling as I hate to see her in distress and not running around with her other duckling friends.

Are you giving them a niacin supplement with their food? Brewer's yeast works wonderfully for this. Regular chick starter doesn't have enough niacin for growing ducklings, and their legs can't develop properly if they don't have it.

 

[anyquack]

Thank you so much for the reply. I have just been giving them maize meal since I have had them so I obviously need to introduce more supplements to their diet. I will definiltly try out Brewer's yeast ! I always find it hard to get food that isn't too chunky and big for ducklings to digest.. Any ideas on what other foods are good for ducklings/ducks diets? I do feel like there is more to the problem though other than her diet as it is only her right foot that is bothering her and she is not putting any pressure on it

 

[Kaessa]

Try giving them a chicken starter/grower crumble with the brewer's yeast. They also really love peas and finely chopped kale. Kale is really good for them, too.

Is maize meal just ground maize? If so, they're very deficient in a LOT of vitamins. Switch their food as soon a possible, add a supplement, and give them greens (and chick grit) too.

If the foot is curling, that's probably why she's not putting pressure on it. Niacin deficiency can cause that.

 

[anyquack]

Brilliant! Thank you so much for your time and help. I will most definitely take your advice on board and change their diets as soon as possible and I will let you know how I get on
Thanks again !

 

[Kaessa]

Brilliant! Thank you so much for your time and help. I will most definitely take your advice on board and change their diets as soon as possible and I will let you know how I get on
Thanks again !

Good to hear! Keep us updated!