Runner duckling hurt leg

[americamom]

I have 4 runner ducks in all, 2 that I raised from days old and 2 that were about a month old when we got them. They adapted very well to each other and the larger Chocolates protect the somewhat smaller Blacks. We also have 9 young hens (about 3 months old) that they run around together with. We have had some horrible flooding weather around here in Florida. I lost track of time to when I normally pen them all up. The Chocolates were already in the run (under the coop) and the Blacks were outside of the run next to them. My laborador was with me when I went out to check on everyone. The Blacks got nervous of the dog and ran off into the field. I do not let the dog chase the poultry and she is pretty good about it. However, when I called her back to me (she was pottying when I noticed the ducks were close to her) she ran towards me slipped on the mud and took a tumble with one of the Blacks. I picked her up right away held her for a minute or two to see if she had any obvious injuries and put her in the pen. She seemed to be limping a bit but made her way to the other ducks where they all just huddled together as they normally do. This morning when my husband let them all out, the one duck was walking to the pond, but was hardly using her right leg like it was sprained. She went into the water and ate and swam without any problems. But then I checked on them 30 min later the other poultry was foraging and she was just sitting next to the pond. She tried to get away from me but after seeing that she was hopping again, I put her into the chicken run. The dog has been inside hiding from the thunder and lightning. The other ducks would come by and check on her but I could not let them into the pen without the fear of letting her out. The storm kicked up more and I made the decision to just put her inside in a small blue container with hay inside the house where I could watch her and keep her warm. She is eating and drinking but is laying down quietly. I have felt everywhere and do not feel any broken bones nor do I see any obvious problems with the exception of her limping. No blood. Nothing hanging funny or torn. Just guarding. She does not cry when I touch her anywhere although she is not crazy about being handled.
I have a bowl of food and water at her reach where she does not have to stand and she is eating like crazy. I put floating fish food in the water as well which all of the ducks like. She is just chilling, laying down. I do not know what else to do for her. This is my first time taking care of poultry. I worry about stressing her out by keeping her away from the other ducks, but I think she was trying to move too much and was stressing the injury.

I am not opposed to bringing her to a vet, but I have yet to find any that specialize in wild birds. I have spoken to someone from a local 4H (they run an educational program mostly with owls and other raptors) and they said that keeping her quiet and fed is probably the best I can do.

Has anyone had any good luck with healing lame ducks? Is keeping her laying down and quiet the best for healing? When should I let her back into swimming water? The biggest fear I have is that I know she is going to get larger and heavier (based on the other ducks) and therefore is going to have to heal to be able to have a decent life. She is just now getting in her feathers and is probably still 25 percent fluffy.
Thank you in advance,
Holly

 

[ValleyPoultryFarms]

All right. I have dealt with many birds going lame with limps etc.
Gather the following substances:
A Popsicle stick
White bandages (NOT band-aids) enough to wrap the whole leg
Topical anti-bacterial cream
1-sided scotch tape
Bubble wrap
1 inch thick styrofoam
Cardboard
pine shavings

Step 1- prepare the cage.

Take enough bubble wrap to line the very bottom of the cage. (out of pecking range of the duck)
Put styrofoam underneath the actual cage (to provide a cushier surface)
Place a piece of cardboard on top the bubble wrap. Place a thick layer of wood shavings ontop of the cardboard. This provides the ultimate Cushy soft surface for an injured pet to put as little strain on it as possible.

Step 2 - prepare the leg.

Rub on the topical crea on the half of the leg that appears ailmented.
Place the Popsicle stick on the back of the ducks leg, upright. Then, wrap it tightly with the white bandages. Tape of the loose edges with the scotch tape.

Step 3- place the duck in the cage.

Put food and water in the ducks cge, lightly doused with some fish flake. (smell entices the duck to eat and drink) put him in the centre of the cage. Shut off all but one light in a moderately temperature room for comfort!

Best of luck. If you have questions, send me a note.