My ducks legs are trembling?

[Rachaels Zoo]

Hi!

I have four pekin ducks two males two females. My females are 25 weeks old. One of them started laying eggs about 3 weeks ago. When she first started she was acting extremely tired NOT lethargic just very tired. She has now perked back up from that however, I noticed about a week ago one of her legs would tremble when she would step down, I kept an eye on it and it stopped. Now for the past couple days both her legs are trembling as she steps down. She is still walking around but not as much as the others, she lays down more often. She is eating , drinking and pooping. She was on layer feed and I switched to a flock raiser and scratch, due to my drakes and roosters eating the same feed, I supplement her with oyster shell. She also gets grit, brewers yeast mixed in her feed, many different vitamin and electrolyte combinations, probiotics and fresh fruits and vegetables that are safe for ducks. All vitamins, electrolytes and probiotics are given accordingly to dosage. I have felt and looked at both legs and there seems to be no injury and they also do not feel hot so no sign of infection. I have separated the drakes away from her as well so she isn’t injured during mating. Separated before shaking legs as well. They do get time together while I supervise to make sure she is ok. Does anyone have any idea what this is????

 

[Isaac 0]

I'm sorry to hear your bird is having problems.

Would you mind uploading a video of her walking here? To post a video, upload it to a video platform such as Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here.

 

[Rachaels Zoo]

I'm sorry to hear your bird is having problems.

Would you mind uploading a video of her walking here? To post a video, upload it to a video platform such as Youtube or Vimeo, and copy/paste the link here.

Yes! Here it is! Thank you! (They are not always this dirty...I dumped their pools and they were playingin the mud )

 

[Isaac 0]

Yes! Here it is! Thank you! (They are not always this dirty...I dumped their pools and they were playingin the mud )

How tight is the leg band on her leg? When did this start? Have you checked the bottom of her foot pads, for signs of swelling, or lesions?

 

[Rachaels Zoo]

How tight is the leg band on her leg? When did this start? Have you checked the bottom of her foot pads, for signs of swelling, or lesions?

the band is very loose slides up and down her leg no problem. I have checked her feet and legs repeatedly and don’t see/feel any injuries. About a week ago was the video and then she wasn’t doing it anymore and now the past couple days she is doing it again but it will be both legs sometimes.

 

[Isaac 0]

It's hard for me to tell you exactly what her problem is, without being able to be there and physically examine her leg, do testing, etc. But, the one thing that I see that could cause potential leg problems in the substrate they're being kept on. It's muddy/sand/clay, that's wet, which could increase the risk of Podermatsisis, arthritis, strains from occurring.

I think if she were mine, I would try to get her on soft dry bedding, administer some B vitamins for a while, and see how she does after that.

Pictures of their whole pen would be good, but generally filling the run with leaves, very fine wood chips, and other decomposable matter works well at providing a soft substrate, and absorbing moisture.

If after a week or two, and that doesn't resolve the problem, you can try letting us know, but I think keeping her on soft/dry bedding to the best of your ability, and upping the niacin in her diet would be a good place to start.

 

[Rachaels Zoo]

It's hard for me to tell you exactly what her problem is, without being able to be there and physically examine her leg, do testing, etc. But, the one thing that I see that could cause potential leg problems in the substrate they're being kept on. It's muddy/sand/clay, that's wet, which could increase the risk of Podermatsisis, arthritis, strains from occurring.

I think if she were mine, I would try to get her on soft dry bedding, administer some B vitamins for a while, and see how she does after that.

Pictures of their whole pen would be good, but generally filling the run with leaves, very fine wood chips, and other decomposable matter works well at providing a soft substrate, and absorbing moisture.

If after a week or two, and that doesn't resolve the problem, you can try letting us know, but I think keeping her on soft/dry bedding to the best of your ability, and upping the niacin in her diet would be a good place to start.

thank you! So she is kept on dry beddingat night and during the day they have free roam of our yard which is grass. The video is after I just dumped their kitty pool they love to play in the mud for like 15 minutes after! I do understand what your saying though! She is given niacin and b and vitamin complex etc I’m wondering if maybe her body does not metabolise it the way it should, just something I’ve read. Thank you for your imput! I wish they could just tell you!

 

[Isaac 0]

thank you! So she is kept on dry beddingat night and during the day they have free roam of our yard which is grass. The video is after I just dumped their kitty pool they love to play in the mud for like 15 minutes after! I do understand what your saying though! She is given niacin and b and vitamin complex etc I’m wondering if maybe her body does not metabolise it the way it should, just something I’ve read. Thank you for your imput! I wish they could just tell you!

What kind of B complex are you giving her, and at what dose?

Besides giving B vitamins, and ensuring their area is soft as possible, and free of things they may trip on that's all I have to suggest as of now. She may have injured the leg and is still a little weak on it. Heavyweight breeds do often suffer from leg problems such as trauma, joint disease, arthritis, etc. Keep an eye on her, and hopefully, it was just a strain or sprain, and it'll go away with rest, and time.