Please help- three week old duckling with curled foot and swollen hock

[DuckyDonna]

I had a Toulouse Goose and a peafowl with this same deformity. I didn't have the heart.to despatch the goose. It was picked on and isolated by the flock and eventually died after a very lonely and unpleasant little life. I took care of the peafowl as soon as I found it had the same defect.

It's caused by too high a temperature in the incubator. Feel free to Google it.

Well then explain how the rest of that hatch was fine.

 

[Mark Park]

Well then explain how the rest of that hatch was fine.

The same way that 100% of smokers don't get cancer.

 

[Mark Park]

The same way that 100% of smokers don't get cancer.

I know what I'm talking about -- I used to import commercial incubators from China and sell them in the UK
Let me see if I can find something online.

 

[Mark Park]

I know what I'm talking about -- I used to import commercial incubators from China and sell them in the UK
Let me see if I can find something online.

Here you go -- from the Brinsea Incubator Handbook:

"Within a range of 35 to 40.5°C (84.5 - 104.9°F) there is the possibility of eggs hatching. The optimum (for hens) is 37.5 °C (99.5°F), above this temperature as well as a reduced hatch there will be an increase in the number of crippled and deformed chicks. Above 40.5 °C (104.9°F) no embryos will survive."

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ok so you can basically say that about any bad birth defect, hatch or situation that might arise unexpectedly. 100% of people having their gall bladder out don't die but some do, the same thing with every procedure.

There may or may not be a reason and you don't know just like I don't know and the person who hatched it doesn't know.

Possibly it was a deformed duck right from the time the embryo began developing but for you to say definitively that it was the incubator temperature that caused it is just wrong!

 

[Isaac 0]

She has a deformed leg from an incorrect incubator temperature.

You should humanely despatch this little bird and consider upgrading your incubator to avoid creating this problem in the future.

I'm not sure how you know this was simply due to an incorrect temperature issue, if you know something we don't I'd be more than glad to hear it, to the point, there are surgery's that are available for problems like this, and in addition to that, water therapy, b vitamins, and the use of splint may drastically improve the duck's ability to walk, and don't get me wrong, I do believe euthanasia would be a thoughtful route to take if none of the above works with the duckling, but I do however think its a bit premature to suggest euthanasia this early on. I believe in giving my birds a fighting chance with life.

 

[Mark Park]

Okay. You're right. Keep doing what you're doing.

 

[WVduckchick]

Incubation temps, genetics, nutrition, even egg-turning issues can cause deformities, as I’m sure there are many more possibilities. Whether or not the duck has quality of life is yet to be seen!

I personally had a duck with a foot that was folded under. His only issue was being a little slower than the other ducks, a hawk got him when he was over a year old.

I also helped @WannaBeHillBilly rehome this sweet girl over a year ago, and she is living a happy duck life! Has a boyfriend and all.

My thoughts for @Mark Park, seeing as how you just joined our wonderful community today, I would suggest that you be a bit more respectful of long term members, and newbies too, no matter how much of an expert you may be. You can voice your opinion without coming across as such a know-it-all. Welcome to our community!

 

[Mark Park]

Incubation temps, genetics, nutrition, even egg-turning issues can cause deformities, as I’m sure there are many more possibilities. Whether or not the duck has quality of life is yet to be seen!

I personally had a duck with a foot that was folded under. His only issue was being a little slower than the other ducks, a hawk got him when he was over a year old.
View attachment 2157803

I also helped @WannaBeHillBilly rehome this sweet girl over a year ago, and she is living a happy duck life! Has a boyfriend and all.

My thoughts for @Mark Park, seeing as how you just joined our wonderful community today, I would suggest that you be a bit more respectful of long term members, and newbies too, no matter how much of an expert you may be. You can voice your opinion without coming across as such a know-it-all. Welcome to our community!

That's okay. I don't have to voice my opinion. If you know better, then so be it. Have a lovely day.

 

[WVduckchick]

That's okay. I don't have to voice my opinion. If you know better, then so be it. Have a lovely day.

Wow, I was trying to be nice! It sounds like you have experience to share. I was only suggesting that you do it in a more polite manner. You come off as a jerk, that’s all. But whatever.

Have a lovely day to you too.