She does this all the time. She also lays down normally and walks fine and doesn't show any signs of distress. None of my other ducks have done this other than a slight pause from laying down to standing up. Noir will sit like this for 5 minutes or so. Seems funny to me.
OK, This was just an opportunity to shamelessly post another duckling picture.
I wonder If she is developing perosis? Maybe you should give her some poultry nutri-drench, just to be sure she's getting everything she needs while she's growing, so this hopefully doesn't continue to deteriorate.
@subhanalah Thank you for your insight. I did some searching on perosis, and I don't think she is having any problems there, but I will keep an eye out for that possibility. Her legs are perfectly straight and she walks and runs normally. She has been getting niacin, probiotics and electrolytes since day 1 in addition to her food. I honestly think it is just a weird habit she has developed. She has a slightly more aggressive sister, Mystique, who is her only brooder mate. They do love each other and when one is lifted from the brooder, they both scream until they are reunited. Mystique since day 1 has felt a need to step on Noir before laying down beside her. Sometimes just a little bit, sometimes enough to get a peep out of her. The most common phrase around this house currently is, "Don't step on your sister!!!"
I don't think it does any real harm, but it is annoying to Noir. Until about two weeks ago, Noir still had a bit of wobbly leg I think because she was kind of lazy and didn't strengthen her own legs. She was already getting the niacin so I gave her some swimming therapy to get her off her butt and in a couple days she was running around just fine. But for about half her life (not that much time) she started sitting up like this just to keep Mystique from stepping on her, then laying back down once Mystique had lain next to her. Now she is asserting herself much more, in fact today I came home to this:
I actually thought I might have a tragedy when I took this picture, but I stepped one step closer and they both got up. I guess this was payback for Mystique stepping on Noir's sides and tail constantly... Noir lying on Mystique's head.
I asked Noir to give me a nice big girl stand up pose to look at her leg alignment and she took this picture just minutes ago
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Oops, I think I shamelessly snuck in two more photos
