Scoliosis or not?

[416bigbore]

This is Gimpy, He is one of our four Rouen/Pekin mix Drakes, he and peanut were both runts and had AW as babies. Peanut looks normal now after wrapping his wings while he was a baby, Gimpy on the other hand is a mess to put it nicely. Gimpy looks more like a Tom Turkey with his droopy wings and arched back.

I just recently learned of Scoliosis in ducks and was wondering if this is what Gimpy might have going on? I know the pics are not perfect but the arch in his back looks 3x of what the other ducks backs look like, he obviously is not shaped the same as the others.

I understand he should not breed to keep from passing this genetic flaw on and can still live a somewhat happy normal life as a pet. Gimpy is very amazing for all he has been through growing up around his siblings. He has always been a little different from the others and a little behind with his maturing and interacting with the others.

Since we noticed Gimpy was a little different from the others, he has always been given a little extra special treatment so he would not miss out on anything over the others. Gimpy is still very healthy, happy and loved just like the rest of our flock.

 

[416bigbore]

Please Help Doctor 0, @Isaac 0

 

[HollowOfWisps]

This is Gimpy, He is one of our four Rouen/Pekin mix Drakes, he and peanut were both runts and had AW as babies. Peanut looks normal now after wrapping his wings while he was a baby, Gimpy on the other hand is a mess to put it nicely. Gimpy looks more like a Tom Turkey with his droopy wings and arched back.

I just recently learned of Scoliosis in ducks and was wondering if this is what Gimpy might have going on? I know the pics are not perfect but the arch in his back looks 3x of what the other ducks backs look like, he obviously is not shaped the same as the others.

I understand he should not breed to keep from passing this genetic flaw on and can still live a somewhat happy normal life as a pet. Gimpy is very amazing for all he has been through growing up around his siblings. He has always been a little different from the others and a little behind with his maturing and interacting with the others.

Since we noticed Gimpy was a little different from the others, he has always been given a little extra special treatment so he would not miss out on anything over the others. Gimpy is still very healthy, happy and loved just like the rest of our flock.

I do not think it's scoliosis in fact he looks like an "Exhibition" Rouen . There are two body types for Rouen's, "Standard" which is what you normally see at most hatcheries, has much cleaner lines and considerably thinner than an "Exhibition" Rouen which have a very large chest, lower set wings and a an arch to their back. I attached a picture (not mine) of what a Exhibition Rouen Drake looks like.

 

[416bigbore]

I do not think it's scoliosis in fact he looks like an "Exhibition" Rouen . There are two body types for Rouen's, "Standard" which is what you normally see at most hatcheries, has much cleaner lines and considerably thinner than an "Exhibition" Rouen which have a very large chest, lower set wings and a an arch to their back. I attached a picture (not mine) of what a Exhibition Rouen Drake looks like.

Thanks for the information that is very interesting, I knew nothing of any exhibition type Rouen duck breed. We were told from the private individual we got these ducks from, that they were a Rouen Mallard, Pekin mix, we had no other information on them then that.

I posted a picture of Gimpy's father below, Gimpy looks nothing like his father. So I am guessing Gimpy is not an exhibition Rouen?

 

[Isaac 0]

I agree with @AstroDuck , not scoliosis, just the fact that he has some Pekin in him, so he looks a lot bigger.

Gorgeous Duck.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Maybe genes from his mom? He looks fine to me. I had a "scoliosis " duck. Please understand that was self diagnosed. It was an obvious curvature of they spine. Twisted down and to the side. He couldn't preening and walking was painful and made him quack. Didn't look like this.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thanks for the information that is very interesting, I knew nothing of any exhibition type Rouen duck breed. We were told from the private individual we got these ducks from, that they were a Rouen Mallard, Pekin mix, we had no other information on them then that.

I posted a picture of Gimpy's father below, Gimpy looks nothing like his father. So I am guessing Gimpy is not an exhibition Rouen?

He may have some hidden genes, but as Issac0 said the Pekin will also create a different body structure.

 

[RainbowHen]

I do not think it's scoliosis in fact he looks like an "Exhibition" Rouen . There are two body types for Rouen's, "Standard" which is what you normally see at most hatcheries, has much cleaner lines and considerably thinner than an "Exhibition" Rouen which have a very large chest, lower set wings and a an arch to their back. I attached a picture (not mine) of what a Exhibition Rouen Drake looks like.

I was gonna say this. Honestly he just looks like a well bred Rouen. Beautiful bird. Congratulations.

 

[416bigbore]

Thank you to everyone for posting with your information, greatly appreciated. This has definitely been another one of those new duck learning experiences for me. I am happy to learn that Gimpy is an Exhibition Rouen breed over having some serious health related spine deformity.

I have been watching Gimpy more closely and his back is very straight from his head to his tail. I even noticed that when he stands on his tiptoes and stretches way out and flaps his wings, he still looks very straight along his backside.

I am curious to chat with the gentleman again who we bought these Rouens from, to see what other information he might be able to give me on Gimpy being an Exhibition Rouen over A Standard like the other Drakes.

Maybe the batch of ten ducklings that we received from him are from two different hatches? Would this be the more logical reason behind why our Drakes are not all Standards? The six hens all look standard with no arched backs.

Gimpy and his other brother Peanut who does not have the arched back, both had AW and because of their slower growth rates from all the others, I just assumed they were the two runts of the batch. I have since learned that Exhibition Rouens do have a slower growth rate over a Standard Rouen. This is all starting to make a little more sense now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/jumbo-exhibition-rouen-thread.1132692/
https://poultrykeeper.com/duck-breeds/rouen-ducks/
https://www.magzter.com/article/Mens-Interest/Fancy-Fowl/The-Rouen-Duck
https://www.peelridgestud.com/breeding-a-show-ready-rouen-duck-flock/

 

[RainbowHen]

Thank you to everyone for posting with your information, greatly appreciated. This has definitely been another one of those new duck learning experiences for me. I am happy to learn that Gimpy is an Exhibition Rouen breed over having some serious health related spine deformity.

I have been watching Gimpy more closely and his back is very straight from his head to his tail. I even noticed that when he stands on his tiptoes and stretches way out and flaps his wings, he still looks very straight along his backside.

I am curious to chat with the gentleman again who we bought these Rouens from, to see what other information he might be able to give me on Gimpy being an Exhibition Rouen over A Standard like the other Drakes.

Maybe the batch of ten ducklings that we received from him are from two different hatches? Would this be the more logical reason behind why our Drakes are not all Standards? The six hens all look standard with no arched backs.

Gimpy and his other brother Peanut who does not have the arched back, both had AW and because of their slower growth rates from all the others, I just assumed they were the two runts of the batch. I have since learned that Exhibition Rouens do have a slower growth rate over a Standard Rouen. This is all starting to make a little more sense now.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/jumbo-exhibition-rouen-thread.1132692/
https://poultrykeeper.com/duck-breeds/rouen-ducks/
https://www.magzter.com/article/Mens-Interest/Fancy-Fowl/The-Rouen-Duck
https://www.peelridgestud.com/breeding-a-show-ready-rouen-duck-flock/

There is definitely still a possibility that he may not be pure bred but he was blessed with some nice genes