Need advice about one-legged Indian Runner duck hen

[Papaye]

Hi.


Yesterday, I have noticed one of my 1-year-old Indian Runner hen has lost her left foot, and even part of her leg beneath the hock joint/ankle...

Given she has been broody and sitting on eggs for a while now, AND that I don't want to touch her for the time being - because of a recent, very bloody fright -, I have not been able to monitor her carefully enough these last few days... and so, I don't know when exactly her leg has fallen off...


For context : for several weeks, my girl had been affected by gangrene on her left leg.
(Details, for people who might be interested, are here : https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-suddenly-bleeding-from-belly-and-vent.1664261/)

Thus, the fact her leg has auto-amputated is good news, and something I was waiting for...!

And now she is not bothered by a dead leg anymore, my duck can walk again : she had just been able to crawl these last few weeks, but yesterday, I have seen her actually walking by using the stump on her left leg...!
(I'm surprised she can even already put pressure on it...!)

It is good. I am happy for my duck...

But now, I need some serious advice... and so, I have questions.


1 • Is it safe for a one-legged Indian Runner hen to be kept together with several drakes?

I have other girls to keep my drakes, so I am not too worried about my girl being particularly overmated... but given that among my boys are (French) Duclair and Cayuga drakes, and that they are pretty big and heavy compared with Runners, I am afraid they will hurt my girl while mating with her.


2 • Is it okay for a one-legged duck to have access to raised pools?

I don't know if my duck will be able to swim correctly with only one leg... and so, I am afraid she won't be able to get out of the pools eventually...

One of my pools - to give an example :

(If I am keeping my duck, I will have to lower the Zippi platforms so she can't get her stump stuck between the pool and the platforms while getting out of the pool...

I also will have to do something - add platforms or metal panels around the pool -, so my duck can't hurt herself by getting out of there...
I don't want her to fall on her stump!!)


3 • Can a broody duck hen hatch eggs with only one leg?

Since my duck is currently sitting on eggs, I need to know if she will eventually be able to hatch them or not.

Thank you in advance for the replies!!

Please, tell me really everything you can think about caring for a one-legged duck : it is a first for me, and I really need advice.

(I need to know if I can keep my duck, or if I have to give her away to keep her safe!)

 

[sourland]

One legged fowl frequently adapt and maintain high quality of life.
1) Due to her reduced mobility, she may become an easy target and get overbred/hurt by the drakes.
2) There is no reason she can not utilize the pools if access and exit are safe.
3) She should be able to succcessfully incubate and hatch her eggs.

 

[Papaye]

One legged fowl frequently adapt and maintain high quality of life.

Thank you for your reply!

Will I have to do something for her stump, eventually...? In order to protect it from the ground, including stones, etc... I mean?

(Just in case : I am already looking for people who could print a 3D foot for my duck.
But honestly, I am not expecting to find them where I live...
And even if I do : before asking for the prosthesis, I will have to ask the vet to see what they say about it...!)

1) Due to her reduced mobility, she may become an easy target and get overbred/hurt by the drakes.

So... I give her away, OR I monitor her carefully...

2) There is no reason she can not utilize the pools if access and exit are safe.

Access and exit will be safer yet when my girl will be able to get out of isolation.

3) She should be able to succcessfully incubate and hatch her eggs.

Good to know!

I was not sure she would be able to turn the eggs (correctly) with only one leg...

I have searched about it on the Internet, but there is nothing I could find about an one-legged broody/mama hen...!!