Need help with duck nutrition

[crtleanne]

Hi all. I have visited a few times but this is my first post. Everytime i have thought something was weird or confusing reading through past responses has helped. I have had my ducks for around two years now and they are pets, i have 1 muscovy male, 2 khaki campbells male and female, and 4 pekins all female. Everyone seems happy, they are eating and drinking and foraging and coming around for snacks but lately ive noticed holes in their webs and now i have 2 pekins with bumble and my khaki girl has what looks like a blister. Nothing has changed and i am thinking its something with nutrition. I called a local feed store and he was no help he said what i give them should be good and it is probably genetic. The issue with that is that they are from 3 different places and were great until now. They are in a fenced in area with a lot of space to forage, they have 2 pools that i change daily, two houses that they mostly dont use and i give them food (purina pellets) and water daily. We also dig up worms and crickets every morning and i give them meal worms, leaf lettuce and spinach as a treat a couple times a week? These are my babies and im worried. Does anyone have suggestions? I gave them niacin as babies should i continue that? Any help or links would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, cort

 

[onaharley]

I am sorry you are having a hard time with your ducks. Could you post some pictures of their feet? I am a little concerned when you say "holes in their webs", pictures would definitely help us understand.

 

[crtleanne]

Here are some photos of one ladies foot. I am doing an epsom bath twice a day and then wrapping it with bandage and vetricyn . I also have her in a pen so she can rest

 

[onaharley]

Here are some photos of one ladies foot. I am doing an epsom bath twice a day and then wrapping it with bandage and vetricyn . I also have her in a pen so she can rest

Omg....holes! I'm gonna tag @Miss Lydia for some insight on this one. I've never seen holes before....but then again I'm still new to having ducks. I don't think much can be done to help the hole though.
But that does look like bumble foot, that plug is gonna have to be twisters out.

 

[crtleanne]

Ive read other threads about holes and it usually suggests nutrition issues but there isnt a ton of info. Im hoping someone will have an idea

 

[CarleeAnn]

I’ve only seen holes in wild ducks feet, I always assumed the stepped on something sharp. Nutrition issues make sense though! Perhaps their metabolism is changing around age two? Or if there is something new in the yard being overlooked- plants or rocks?

Edited: Oops, I just saw what you said about the two pools!! Sorry-

XDo they have an adequate pond to clean their feet in?X

 

[chickens really]

Spinach is not good for Birds....Blocks them from being able to absorb calcium....What is the runs grounds covered in?....Bumble is a staph infection caused by injury and bacteria getting into the scrape....
Best of luck....

 

[Vyctoria]

I have a WH hen with a tiny hole in her foot that has never bothered her, but she's had one slightly crooked leg since she was a duckling, so it made her clumsy up until she grew and got wide enough that she wasn't stepping on herself. I always assumed she had stepped wrong and accidently caught her own foot.