Operation Rehab...is there any hope for her?

[PetesMom]

Well I went and got 2 more buff orps, a hen and a roo(I think), and traded one of my pekins for one of them....anyways as we are down trying to catch the baby chickens I see this sad little duck sitting in the woods Me being the animal lover I am I asked what was wrong with it and she said she didn't really know but she can't walk. She is basically bald because of the other ducks, and the roosters trying to breed with it. I asked if I could have her so I brought her home, set up her own little area and gave her some nutridrench.....also put some of that in her water and also put some vitamin/electrolytes in her water also, and of course food. She told me they were giving her chicken scratch. And also stated that she use to be fine. I'm hoping she pulls through even if she doesn't regain complete mobility. I'll just get her a diaper and take her wherever I go. She can also swim. Is there any hope for her? I mean will she live? I know that's kind of an unanswerable question but man I feel so bad and feel very attached to her already
Here are some pictures, I've named her Ling, which mean delicate in chinese


Her feet




Her little area to herself


And here's a video of her

Also not entirely sure how old she is....maybe 5 or 6 weeks as she has alot of feathers (well the ones that are there) She's really small though alot smaller then my 4 week old pekins

 

[PetesMom]

Update...with pics! Ling is still improving, every single day! Still not using that leg to walk but I can see she is using it alot more in the pool which is a good thing right? She is such a darn sweetheart! Here are some pictures of her today....about a week after I rescued her! And a video of her in the kiddie pool (excuse the mucky water....suprisingly that was cleaned and refilled this morning lol)





Hey mom!




She uses her tail to keep her balance


Here's the video of her in the pool

 

[Miss Lydia]

My duckling that cannot walk looks terrible right now and if people saw a picture of her they would probably think I wasn't taking care of her. That is not the case at all! She is VERY loved and has been taken care of very well, however along the way her leg has suddenly turned inward and she cannot hardly walk. She was fed Chick Starter (that is what TSC told me to feed them) but now I think that didn't have enough nutrients in it. I now give her niacin, mashed fresh veggies as well to try to help her leg. Her hips are now protruding outward and her feathers are not coming in right on the hips. She is all dirty because she keeps falling over. My point is, that even though I am trying so hard to help the duckling's leg to get better, she looks terrible. So it MAY not have been the prior owners lack of care....? Just a thought. I hope Ling continues to get better. I am running out of ideas for my duckling. Going to get brewers yeast today and continuing hydro therapy.

Don't give up. Just keep doing what your doing and hopefully it will pay off soon.

 

[PetesMom]

Ling update! She actually WALKED today!!!!! It was just a couple of steps but she actually walked! No hobble.....she put her little chicken wings out and she took a few steps like an almost normal duck!!!! I cannot express how happy I was to see that! Maybe she WILL be able to walk again and we can prove that vet wrong!

 

[TheRookie]

Aww I hope she does okay! Im new to ducks so I cant offer advice but definitely keep us updated on how she does

 

[Diamond88]

As a newbie to all this I can't offer any advice either, but I hope she'll be okay! She's a very cute little duck. Keep us posted on her recovery. I'm hoping for the best.

 

[PetesMom]

Thanks Guys! I'll keep this post updated on her progress. She is such a sweet duck, I don't want to give up on her

 

[Tripp P]

It will probably be fine one of mallard drakes got torn up by our dog when they both got out that was maybe two weeks ago and the duck is fine now hes just missing some feathers

It will probably maybe a month or so before he got more feathers back

 

[veronicasmom]

Oh, you are so wonderful to take her. And not to punch that person in the head for being stupid. I really hope she turns around for you. There is nothing like taking a needy animal and making their live good again. Please keep us posted on her progress.
Grrrrrr......stupid stupid people.

 

[PetesMom]

She is VERY alert! Really really wants to be by the other ducks but I don't want to subject her to anymore pecks so I made her makeshift pen right in the ducks side of the barn so she can still see them. Even if she doesn't walk again she will always have a home with me. I won't give up on her. Already thinking about getting her a little duck diaper and taking her with me wherever I go. But I want to see if she gets any better. If I hold her chest up with my hand she will lean on it and walk. So maybe a makeshift ducky wheelchair? If I didn't have a husky that would eat her in my house she would be in it :'( She is such a sweetheart. I'm thinking it was caused from a niacin deficiency. And I am concerned due to her age that she won't make a full recovery but we will see, I just couldn't leave her there though

I've even been washing her butt

It's so dirty I think because she can't make it into a pool or anything to preen herself. I stuck her in my kiddie pool for a couple minutes and she can swim just can't move to good on land I will get better pics of her tomorrow and post them. I'll just keep updating this thread instead of making a new one for those of you who want to know how she's doing.

I've also named her Ling, it's chinese for delicate. And I think it suits her