New Duckling Leg/Foot Injury?

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello Friends!
I posted earlier about my ducklings laying down quite often and one duckling seems to be laying down more than her sisters. I tried to take a photo of her feet/legs to see if you think they look okay or if she has some sort of injury. She walks around for a few steps and then sits down. I don't know how to help. Thanks.

 

[Quatie]

So the duckling looks like it has a curled foot. You can tape the foot with making tape or painters tape to hold it in place. I believe it can be fixed a few days. There was a thread on here recently where they talked about. I can't find it.

Here is an older one.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/day-old-ducklings-feet-are-curled-under.50180/

Swimming can help them strengthen their legs while not being strained. If it has having a hard time walking this would be beneficial. You will get the most benefit from it if they can touch the bottom and must float. Either way they love swimming and it can't hurt. Just make sure the water is warm.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She seems wobbly on her legs from just seeing the little she's walking. To be on the safe side I'd go with Liquid B Complex it has helped so many ducklings that have a niacin deficiency. And you can have many other ducklings and only have one that shows this. So the others maybe fine on the brewers yeast. I've always used Nutritional yeast Others like the brewers yeast. But when one is showing symptoms the liquid B does better and faster. Brewers yeast and nutritional is to me like a prevention more cure . https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/
It mane an injury which the liquid B will help to strengthen the muscles also if you want to let the ducklings swim make sure their water is nice an warm an the room is warm also then Pat dry an right back under heat to finish drying . Water therapy is very good for strengthening legs.
info on Brewers yeast an Nutritional yeast. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/nutritional-yeast-vs-brewers-yeast.1393856/
Liquid B complex I’d start out with half ml daily by mouth or over feed or something tasty. You want to make sure she gets the whole dose. Putting it in water dilutes it too much. If you want to give by mouth let us know before you do so we can show how best to do it.

 

[Quatie]

@Miss Lydia should also give you some more expert advice too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How old? First week temps should be around 85-87 some like 90 I’ve always kept mine at the lower range no drafts etc. then each week after drop the temp 5*. Until they are at normal house temp

 

[Miss Lydia]

What are you using for a waterer? This is what i did when I had my ducklings over the years I use Nutritional yeast over their feed 1 Tablespoon per cup of feed, and put on ml of B complex into their drinking water every time I gave fresh water. This is the water container I use. Most of the time if given over meal worms they gobble them right down. You may have to add to their water. I wouldn’t use both though of the liquid b and blue bonnet niacin capsules. Are these capsules plain niacin not time released or flush free? It’s best to use the plain.

 

[Quatie]

I would recommend getting a video of just that one duckling walking.

@Isaac 0 is the extremely knowledgeable on ducks and will be able to tell you if there is anything to worry about and what is likely going on

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I would recommend getting a video of just that one duckling walking.

@Isaac 0 is the extremely knowledgeable on ducks and will be able to tell you if there is anything to worry about and what is likely going on

Okay. I tried my best to get a video of her walking. She takes a few steps here and there but then she lays down. She does this in the brooder too. I'm hoping she isn't hurting. Should I give the ducklings a swim in the bathtub to help her? Would she need a splint or supports of some kind? I can't tell. Near the end of the video, she walks upright a few steps and lays back down.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Also, as mentioned in my other post, I was thinking niacin deficiency maybe. The ducklings are eating Purina Flock Raiser and I put 1 tbsp. of Now brand nutritional yeast in one cup of food. I'm wondering if that isn't enough. I have Niacin capsules 100mg Blue Bonnet brand arriving today and I was going to put that into their water.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thought I'd mention that swimming time (my ducks call it "swimminsss" time) is great fun and exercise for them, but such tinies won't swim, really, they'll just walk in the water. I don't know if it will help. But - again - not even close to claiming expertise...

I don't have video of my lil duckies specifically walking at that age, but here they are swimming the day after I received them. You can kinda see my Runner walking around in the tub. She's the lightest colored one: