Pekin Duckling 12 Days Cant Walk or Balance - Need Assistance

[duckboy123]

Yes it did work i had to help him stay up for a while but eventually they got the hang of it

 

[Silverladyrae]

Hope it helps! Hazel's also getting 'water therapy' twice a day after which I reapply the hobble. She's not thrilled with it, but it does seem to be working and she's gaining strength back into her legs which are now still being held in the correct position.

I think your Hazel has a slightly different issue than my Huey, as she seems able to float in the water on her own. Huey gets very spastic and starts flopping and flailing around. His legs are strong, he just doesn't seem to be able to use them correctly. I was checking this morning and he also seems to step on his own toes a lot. I am trying to teach him to do his own walking and standing , with my help to balance, and his legs don't appear to be splayed, just that he keeps them very close together, although with "bumpers" (my hands, or legs, or pillows etc.), he can stay up and take steps, just not stay on his feet without the help.

Yes it did work i had to help him stay up for a while but eventually they got the hang of it

Did you put any type of hobbles or anything on them to help? See just above, did any of yours suffer from this?

 

[duckboy123]

all did was hold them into a natural position in water just deep enough for them to not be able to stand in it and wait for him to kick his legs and eventually he was able to walk again.

 

[Haunted55]

I think your Hazel has a slightly different issue than my Huey, as she seems able to float in the water on her own. Huey gets very spastic and starts flopping and flailing around. His legs are strong, he just doesn't seem to be able to use them correctly. I was checking this morning and he also seems to step on his own toes a lot. I am trying to teach him to do his own walking and standing , with my help to balance, and his legs don't appear to be splayed, just that he keeps them very close together, although with "bumpers" (my hands, or legs, or pillows etc.), he can stay up and take steps, just not stay on his feet without the help.


Did you put any type of hobbles or anything on them to help? See just above, did any of yours suffer from this?

Have you tried the hobble with something to hold his legs a little further apart? Take some of the Vet wrap and make a small roll and then use some more to figure 8 around his legs and hold the roll between them.

If this were me, I would stop the poly vi sol and just give them a cruched super B complex vitamin in their water [1 pill- 1 gal.] If he's crested, the other poster is correct that it could be a congenital issue. The B vitamins are what work on the nervous system and help them develop. Niacin is a B vitamin. Kevin is correct about the time released niacin. You should find the regular niacin or switch to a brewers yeast you can sprinkle on the feed. I'll be honest and tell you it may not be enough, but we have to try don't we? I know I would!

I currently have a muscovie in the house because he is having leg issues. He has been on niacin since hatch but even though he has responded some, his rapid growth is an issue. Pekins grow very fast as well so these ideas are something to do now. I am making my duck, 3 months old now, a sling/harness to get him up on his feet all the time. [I don't have pictures yet as it isn't finished.] Sydney, my duck, knows how his legs are supposed to go, the hobbling taught him that, but his right leg is 'lazy' and he can't always get it underneath himself. When he does he is able to walk very well for 6-7 steps before he has to stop or he reaches his water bowl.

One thing I will warn you of, I had a duckling hatch a few months ago that had 2 clubed feet. The only way it could get around was as you described with yours. 15 mins., of forgetting the marbles in the waterer, is all it took for me to lose this little one. Please make sure you've got this covered.

I'm sorry I can't be more help to you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry this will give you examples on how to do the hobbles scroll down till you come to leg problems.. all the best..

 

[Silverladyrae]

You guys are AWESOME!!!

I will try the hobble, I have not tried that yet as his feet aren't splayed, but I just had another feeding with him and while I hate to get too optimistic, he seems slightly improved even since this morning. We are practicing standing on our own, while I just slightly hold him up, and I am adjusting his stance to train his brain for the right position. Then I made him do his own walking (assisted of course) over to the water and back to the food. He's definitely wanting to take off and run, he keeps hopping up to try and take off, so I'm trying to refocus him on forward instead of up and over. The hobble to hold his legs slightly further apart may do the trick, as that seems to be an issue, with him stepping on his own feet. He prefers to stand on my hand most of the time and balances there like a little monkey, with a lil help of course!

I went all over the planet at lunch to find the correct kind of niacin, and I've already got that in the water and in his watering just a few minutes ago. When I am off the phone ( I do consulting/training work with the job I left when I moved) we are going to do some water therapy. I know I'll have to hold him for that, I'll post up what happens afterwards for y'alls input.

I'm really hoping to see good results, because you're right, I absolutely have to try. I cried half the day I took him to the vet after having him for only a week and my hubby says if nothing works, we at least gave him a good life as long as we could.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your lil one, I am very careful with the water, even before I got here just watching him I was certain he'd drown himself so I took precautions with a very shallow waterer, and currently have a small Tupperware type bowl with a hole cut out only large enough for them to get their faces in but not fall in. Of course they get it EVERYWHERE else, and still managed to soak themselves, but no falling in or getting chilled. ;-)

 

[Miss Lydia]

You guys are AWESOME!!!

I will try the hobble, I have not tried that yet as his feet aren't splayed, but I just had another feeding with him and while I hate to get too optimistic, he seems slightly improved even since this morning. We are practicing standing on our own, while I just slightly hold him up, and I am adjusting his stance to train his brain for the right position. Then I made him do his own walking (assisted of course) over to the water and back to the food. He's definitely wanting to take off and run, he keeps hopping up to try and take off, so I'm trying to refocus him on forward instead of up and over. The hobble to hold his legs slightly further apart may do the trick, as that seems to be an issue, with him stepping on his own feet. He prefers to stand on my hand most of the time and balances there like a little monkey, with a lil help of course!

I went all over the planet at lunch to find the correct kind of niacin, and I've already got that in the water and in his watering just a few minutes ago. When I am off the phone ( I do consulting/training work with the job I left when I moved) we are going to do some water therapy. I know I'll have to hold him for that, I'll post up what happens afterwards for y'alls input.

I'm really hoping to see good results, because you're right, I absolutely have to try. I cried half the day I took him to the vet after having him for only a week and my hubby says if nothing works, we at least gave him a good life as long as we could.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your lil one, I am very careful with the water, even before I got here just watching him I was certain he'd drown himself so I took precautions with a very shallow waterer, and currently have a small Tupperware type bowl with a hole cut out only large enough for them to get their faces in but not fall in. Of course they get it EVERYWHERE else, and still managed to soak themselves, but no falling in or getting chilled. ;-)

Look forward to hearing the progress your lil one will make, your avatar pic is so precious.

 

[duckboy123]

hope everything turns out for ya

 

[Silverladyrae]

Okay folks, first duck hobble, a reverse hobble I assume this is. Does it look right?

It is holding his legs apart and after the first cranky struggles, he's now passed out in my lap, mostly upright for the first time without me holding him up.



The water therapy was a disaster. He hated it. Absolutely hated it. And cried for about 20 minutes after. I hold him up, as soon as his feet aren't touching he starts paddling like he's in duck nascar, no floating, no sitting on the water. Flailing, screaming, and kicking, not paddling.

Upside, we had outside play time after, with Dewey and Louie. Who loved being out on the patio for the first time, ran around in circles, until Dewey fell in the pool, and swam, like well a duck. After pulling him out, he promptly knocked Louie in, who swam even better. So those 2 at least got this thing figured.

I live in Central Florida, so it was plenty warm, and they are already somewhat water resistant apparently even at 13 days old.

 

[EJPedrazzi]

Looks good! Yes, it's like the opposite of what my Hazel has on! Does it feel firm enough, like it's keeping the legs apart? Can he stand up on his own with them on?