Please help, severe feet deformity, I need advise.

[tajuano]

Hello, I have a day old duckling, that I help to hatch. It was malpositioned, with its feet over the head. All the other ducklings died I managed to safe only this one. I did not incubated it, the duck was sitting on those eggs. Well, anyway, now its feet are towards the back of its body. When I place it on the floor, the duckling only lays on the stomach, with its feet all the way back, and kicking hard, as if trying to run. For now, I have this duckling in a plastic container so the walls of the container can support it, and the duckling has fresh water and food available at all times. I will post pictures later. But for now I need some help, what can I do to help it? Culling little beggar is not an option.

 

[Amiga]

Many possibilities here . . .

Make sure it is on a no-skid surface. Slippery surfaces make the problems worse.

Start putting niacin in the water at 100 to 50 mg per gallon - plan to keep that up for a couple of months. Do not use time release or no flush, just plain niacin, open the capsules to dissolve in the water.

Also, some Gro-Gel or Sav-A-Chik once right away.

Then once a week, poultry vitamin-electrolyte-probiotic mix.

At some point I would try a closely supervised warm (90F) bath just a few inches deep. You may need to immediately remove the duckling, but you might find that the hydrotherapy helps stimulate leg movement and strengthen muscles and improve circulation.

You may also need to make a brace for the legs, just a piece of yarn with loops at the ends around each leg near the top of the leg. Be very gentle, you may need to progress a little each day with this, if it is something that seems appropriate.

 

[tajuano]

Many possibilities here . . .

Make sure it is on a no-skid surface. Slippery surfaces make the problems worse.

Start putting niacin in the water at 100 to 50 mg per gallon - plan to keep that up for a couple of months. Do not use time release or no flush, just plain niacin, open the capsules to dissolve in the water.

Also, some Gro-Gel or Sav-A-Chik once right away.

Then once a week, poultry vitamin-electrolyte-probiotic mix.

At some point I would try a closely supervised warm (90F) bath just a few inches deep. You may need to immediately remove the duckling, but you might find that the hydrotherapy helps stimulate leg movement and strengthen muscles and improve circulation.

You may also need to make a brace for the legs, just a piece of yarn with loops at the ends around each leg near the top of the leg. Be very gentle, you may need to progress a little each day with this, if it is something that seems appropriate.

Thank you for your response. I have been giving him some brewers yeast also I have tried to make brace for him, he was not too happy about it. I have the same situation as this person had https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/392157/help-please-duckling-born-with-twisted-leg so, looking through the conversation I got an idea what to do, as long as I am not too late.

 

[Amiga]

It may take a while, but I feel anything you can do for nutrition, and hydrotherapy (warm baths) will make a positive difference. Keep us posted!

 

[tajuano]

Here is some picture to give you an idea what is going on, the pictures were taken yesterday, I will update it tomorrow.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is some picture to give you an idea what is going on, the pictures were taken yesterday, I will update it tomorrow.

What a cutie, here is a link on helping with leg issues, scroll down a ways to see the different methods. https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Amiga]

I feel that catching this so early and starting with vitamins, water therapy, and splints or hobbles is the best thing, and I hope for the best possible outcome. Please keep us posted.

 

[tajuano]

Thank you all for your help, I will keep you posted. He is most adorable little duckling, and good patient as well. He was the only one that survived from 13 eggs. They were all malpositioned and sick, don't know what went wrong.

 

[tajuano]

I have tried to make it work, but poor fellow was so upset that I had to give up the idea for now.

He/she looks so happy in his brooder, I just hate to disturb his/her piece.

That is the jumber that I tried to imitate, but it did not work, any other ideas?

I got brewers yeast, the duckling likes it a lot, I am sprinkling it on the water and he/she likes to drink it up.

And that is how the duckling walks, I wonder if his/her other leg also misshapen.



Just look at this poor guy, I need to help him/her, but from all the activities he is getting so tired.





That his/her brooder, the heat is coming from the bottom.

 

[tajuano]

Forgot to mention, we have been doing water therapy, and at first he/she almost drowned, but after a while he/she got a hang of it. I am so out of ideas how to help this little fellow. I have tried so many ideas, but each time he/she screams loud, and then when I place him/her into the bouncer he/she fights me all the way and then its feet are pulled so tight to its body that I have hard time placing any bandages or any other things on his/her feet. What do I do now? I am plump out of ideas, looked all over the internet for ideas, but alas, not much out there. People please help me, how do I do this without hurting little guy? I am so frosterated right now, I tried bandages, but it did not really work, and then when I tried to take it off his little feet, he screamed in pain. I am at my wits end.