My first baby ducks! Please help!

[sroberts]

I have a 1 week old Indian runner female. She is favoring one leg and her one foot is a bit swollen it seems. I don't think it looks like bumble foot. She is still walking around and eating. Just sits a lot and rest a lot! I'm sure it's nothing much but as a first time duck mom I am concerned!

 

[caesargirl]

@amiga any ideas?

 

[Amiga]

Is there anything wrapped around her leg, near the top?

Another guess is she's sprained it. An Epsom salt compress might help. Warning - Epsom salt is a serious laxative!!!! Do not let her ingest any! Just soak a clean rag with some Epsom salt dissolved in water, wrap her foot and hold her for a few minutes. Do that a few times a day.

It won't work to put her in water with Epsom salts because ducklings drink their bathwater

I need to turn in soon, I'll check back in the morning.

 

[DemonicFowl]

Have you tried soaking her foot in epsom salt water to try to bring the swelling down. 1 table spoon epsom salt to a gallon warm water. Then you can pour a glass and put her foot in it for say 10 min, 3 times a day (morning,afternoon,night). Don't let her drink it, they can I just don't recall the safe dosage for doing so.

Does it feel warmer compared to the other foot? Any event happen before you noticed the swelling? Whats her diet/feed? Was she ever dropped?

 

[Amiga]

@sroberts

 

[sroberts]

Thank you all! I will try the Epsom salt. She was shipped to me. I think the trip was harsh because many of the ducks didn't survive. She is the smallest out of 12 so it is possible another stepped on her or she hurt it being shipped. She is on baby duck starter food not chick food.

 

[DemonicFowl]

Any progress with her leg?

 

[sroberts]

It seems to slowly be going down. I have been doing the Epsom salt soak. (Not letting her drink any) and have her and one other in a small area alone so she can heal. I think that has been helping. She just isn't growing as fast but she is an Indian runner and the rest are welsh harlequin and khaki Campbell.

 

[Amiga]

It seems to slowly be going down. I have been doing the Epsom salt soak. (Not letting her drink any) and have her and one other in a small area alone so she can heal. I think that has been helping. She just isn't growing as fast but she is an Indian runner and the rest are welsh harlequin and khaki Campbell.

You might consider poultry vitamins once a week or two for all of them, just as a boost.