Mystery Muscovy Neck Problem

[JessHall]

Sorry these pics aren't the greatest

Has anyone ever seen this?
This duck was perfect when we brought it home as a day old. About three days later, we woke up to what my husband calls "Brokeback"

I have met one person who has a male Scovy with the same problem. He lives his live normally as does this one. It has lots of personality and we can't imagine not having it, but it would be nice to know if it's genetic or maybe a broken neck... or something

It would also be nice to know if it's a male or female. It's about 10 weeks old now.
Thanks!

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

We had a Black Muscovy EXACTLY like that, and we called him "spinner."
Never figured out what was wrong with him, and sadly, he didnt make it.

And by Exactly, I mean it was even off the same side...

 

[JessHall]

Wow! How long did he live?

 

[cyanne]

I have a self-blue muscovy drake with this same issue! His neck sits off to the same side as well. It also seems like his back is kind of hunched up or like he has a hump back there. He is pretty much fully grown and gets along just fine, but I have considered culling him because I am worried about it being a genetic issue.

Would love to hear from the experts if anyone knows what causes this. I was thinking it had to be some sort of spinal deformity...like scoliosis in people.

btw, his name is Quasimodo or Quasi for short.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We had one last year with the same problem. The one we had was the only one I have ever seen in our Muscovies and we have had them for over 10 years now. It's not feed related as we had a bunch growing out at the same time and they were all fine.

Steve in NC

 

[JessHall]

I too, thought about culling it... for a moment... then realized I have no idea how to and I'd probably be really upset. I hope I'm doing an ok thing by not, it eats, drinks, poops, swims, and sometimes does it all at once.

Please let me know if I'm keeping it around for the wrong reasons

I wonder if it's a male or female... if it's a she and tries to lay an egg, will she be able to?
If it's a he, I don't really want it breeding with any of my other ducks because I don't know if it's genetic.
When it first happened, someone told me to give it Vitamin E... It didn't work.
It DOES however seem to be a problem specific to Muscovy Ducks. I haven't gotten any comments from anyone with any other ducks having this problem.
How interesting... my wheels are turning now...

I am however, really glad to know that I'm not totally alone.
How old were your ducks when they developed this?

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

It didn't come from hatch. I don't remember how old it was but they were outside already. The only other ducks we have are runners and haven't seen it in them but we have only had them a year ish. I have seen it before in pheasants but never any other birds. You don't want to breed it either way

Steve in NC

 

[cyanne]

Mine was normal when I got him, along with 2 females. They were about 2 or 3 months old at the time and were almost fully feathered. I started noticing that he had one wing that he let hang down all the time while the other one was tucked up really high on his back. It was like his back was lopsided...and it also sort of stuck up like a little hump.

Now, a few months on, he walks funny and his head sticks off to one side all the time.

It does not seem to bother him at all...he eats (ALOT), drinks, swims, flies (a little, he is too fat to get very high off the ground), and even tries to romance the lady ducks.

Speaking of which, I don't really want him to breed, in case it is genetic, but at the same time I wish he was normal because he is so much nicer and gentler about the breeding thing than my other drakes. I have two khaki drakes that chase the girls around all the time and are very aggressive about trying to mate...they drag the girls around by their head and if they are in the pool they practically drown the poor things!

Quasi is all sweet and gentlemanly...he stands by the girl and sweet talks to her and gives her little nibbles until she agrees to let him 'on board'. I'll bet the girls would much rather have him around than the other two crazy idiots!

For now we are not hatching any eggs, so it doesn't really matter, but I guess we will have to separate him out if we ever decide to let any of the hens hatch some. Don't want a bunch of weird, deformed ducks!

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Mine was probably 3-5 weeks old, but Im not 100% sure, as it was last spring.

That is weird that everyone who has had the problem was with muscovies!

 

[JessHall]

So... what's the general opinion about weather or not they are ok to live... I mean, are they suffering in any way?

I'm beginning to question my judgment regarding what's best for this duck. It's kinda making me sick. Am I living in denial by keeping it around, or should I cull it?
It didn't bother me until today when I really faced the facts and started researching it and reading about all this. Reading about culling didn't help me out either... I just have to keep in mind that my suffering is not what matters here. It's the ducks.