New Duck Owner, Lots of learning

Hi guys!

I just wanted to start off with the story about how I even got into this, my boyfriend and I wanted to wait another year to get all of our stuff together before going and getting ducks. But I work at my local TSC, and I had checked on our little chicks and ducks two saturdays ago, feeding and watering and cleaning, and they were all fine. Sunday comes around and I go in and there is a duck in the back (He looks to be a Khaki or Runner, not sure but will post pics later). I ask my team lead what was wrong, he said he wasn't sure, but another customer had seen he wasn't able to walk and they had put him in the back for safety so the others didn't get after him.

Now I KNOW all of those ducks were up and walking fine the night before, so he had to have gotten hurt in the night while we were closed. So I told both of my team members to keep an eye on him, and if he was still doing good by the end of the night, he was going home with me. Needless to say, He's home .

He was by himself because the rest had sold, and I didn't want him to sit back there in the tank alone and unable to move. He couldn't even get to his food or water with how they had set it up and he needed constant attention. So my boyfriend and I brought him home and since I was off for two days, I babysat. Literally checking on him every few hours, making sure he could get water and food and even working with his leg. We got the sav-a-chik electrolyte packets and even a stuffed animal buddy until we had gotten more at the store. He had started to show signs of movement in his leg over the next few days with the water therapy I was doing, and eventually tried to stand.

Friday of last week, we got ducks, Pekins to be exact. and I asked my manager if I could take only one since I didn't get two last time like policy (the 2 duck minimum policy). She said that was fine and by the end of the night they had snuggled up together all happy. The Pekin is maybe a few days old, and my little sweet special guy is maybe on the verge of three weeks and they can't get enough of each other.

I've been in contact with my friend who is a trained ACO and has taken vet classes, along with personally contacting a vet friend. they said he had sprained his elbow, and with what I'm doing so far, he should be okay to go in a short time.

I want to try and keep them at my boyfriend's house since he has plenty of farmland to spare so he's working on the coop. And I'm the one working on all of the feed and care stuff. I found this site when I was looking for answers on what could be hurting my little guy's leg, and I'm hooked.


But anyway, I just wanted to tell you my story and that I'm excited to look around and meet you guys!!