Something is wrong with my duckling's legs.

[yotetrapper]

You may have followed my post in the incubating section. I have a duckling, who is approaching 48 hours old (that was supposed to be a chicken, lol). He is now finally dry and fluffy, but something is wrong with his legs.

When he tries to stand up/walk, both of his legs go out to the sides and he can't walk/stand. He can scoot around really fast, but can't get up on two legs. What is wrong, and can it be fixed?

 

[Katy]

What kind of bedding do you have him on. It sounds like he's got spraddle leg You can "tie" them together right above the feet with a band-aid to keep them from going out to the sides. The band-aid pad can serve as a guide as to how far apart to put the legs.

 

[yotetrapper]

He was just on the hardware cloth bottom (wire) of the incubator, now he is on paper towels (for the past hour or so. Are paper towels ok, or would something else help better?

I'll bandaid his feet, thanks! How long do you keep them like that for?

 

[Katy]

Paper towels should be ok. Just so you don't use newspaper or anything slick. I like to use puppy pee pads in the bottom of the brooder at the beginning.....especially with ducks since they make everything so wet! I'm not really sure how long you'll need to leave it on. I'd say check after a few days to see if he's making progress.

 

[yotetrapper]

Well, I put it on, and now he just lunges forward and his legs go straight out behind him. He uses his legs to push himself along on his chest. I searched on spraddle leg and they say as soon as you put the bandaid on they should be able to keep themselves upright, but he's not.

So should I just leave him laying with his legs out behind him like that???

 

[Katy]

Sorry I don't know what else to tell you. Do you have a little container that you can prop him up in so he gets the feel of his legs under him?

 

[yotetrapper]

This is weird! I didnt like the way the bandaid was on so I took it off to redo it. I left him lying on a blanket when I went to get another bandaid. I came out and when I reached for him....... he RAN away. Yes RAN, with his feet under him. He can't stand or walk, but he can RUN???

 

[redhen]

aww!!..this is making me sad...wish i knew something (anything) to help you...sorry..Wendy

 

[Katy]

LOL...well, that's a step in the right direction! I'd leave him alone...let him learn on his own. If he can run I doubt that he needs his legs splinted!!

 

[yotetrapper]

Must be a runner duck LOL.

I took him out again and was messing with him. If I give him my hand to lean on, he can walk with the splints on. Without them, it's as if he's too top heavy. But when his legs go out behind him, now he's getting quick at getting them back under him.

I'm gonna go with the splints for a day or two and see what happens.