New, question about foot defect

[sherrik9]

Hi, I live in WA state and got 10 calls ducks last fall for my border collie to practice herding. My dog hasn't worked the ducks since Oct and I'm in love with my ducks. Just build an addition onto the current pen so I can have some control over breeding next year. This year I've hatched 36 ducklings. All great except this last batch had 2 born with deformed feet. One had both feet deformed and died that night. The other is now a week old and moving well but only has one working foot. The deformed foot is curled in. Any ideas on causes?
Been reading your posts all year, a great forum!

 

[Kevin565]

. . Sounds like it could be this

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/146068/need-help-please-duckling-w-curled-foot

 

[Amiga]

I have read here that thiamine deficiency may contribute to leg and foot problems, if I recall correctly.

 

[sherrik9]

I've read about niacin and thiamine but wonder if they are too closely bred. From what I read it seems that vitamin deficiency would cause other problems. A bit of survival of the fittest around my place so won't be taping the foot of the duckling. The little thing seems to be doing OK so will just watch and see how he does. He/she won't have to be a herding duck just a cutie to watch <G>

 

[Funniducki1]

Interesting, I have never heard of Call ducks being used for herding. Their little legs are soo very short, and they are so slow!
You may have better luck with a herding line (not extremely tall show type) Indian Runners. Just a thought.

Good luck with your little guy, sometimes things get better with time and age too. And it never hurts to supplement, I saw Niacin for sale at Target the other day.

 

[sherrik9]

Calls work nice for herding. They teach patience and finer movements to the dog, they also flock tightly. I'm feeding Purina Flock Raiser, how much niacin would I add? I haven't been able to find any duck food locally. Just got done reading all the posts on broody ducks. Wealth of information, and thinking I got very lucky this year.

 

[Kevin565]

Feet issues are actually a common issue for some people who incubate. If fixed now it could possibly live a normal life like any other duckling

A bit of survival of the fittest around my place so won't be taping the foot of the duckling. The little thing seems to be doing OK so will just watch and see how he does.

 

[sherrik9]

All my duckling were incubated by Mom. I had been told that calls were hard to hatch and being a complete novice figured I wouldn't get any ducklings. After I got the first batch I was so excited that I let anybody who wanted to sit on a nest go for it

. The ones with the feet problems came out of the eggs with the feet curled. No week legs or other signs of niacin problems. Since I didn't really expect babies I wasn't really set up for them. I let the Mom's hatch the eggs then when the babies are about 4 to 7 days old I move them to a brooder. Once they start wandering around with all the ducks I was afraid they would get stepped on.

 

[sherrik9]

Got a hold of the baby with the foot problem and it appears to be normal now.

 

[Amiga]