Taping ducklings legs

[smh6933]

I have four Pekin ducklings, two of which have leg issues. One has two bad legs, he walks on his elbows and another has one bad leg. Since they are scooting on their elbows, their elbows are getting scrapped up. Is there a way to tape them so they don't get worse?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Before tapping/ strapping or supporting the legs in any way it is important to know what the cause of the issue is- to ensure they are getting the right kind of treatment. Taping legs alone will not fix the problem if it is caused by slipped tendons. Can you give more descripting or include photos of the legs so you might get a better idea of the cause- alternatively- the best thing may be to get a vet or wildlife rehab person to look at them and work out what is going on.

 

[BirdBrain]

Could this be a niacin deficiency? I don't know. Just a thought.

 

[smh6933]

For the past week I have been calling vets, calling the place where I got them, calling local duck farms and asking online vets......in conclusion I have received no help with my poor ducklings. When I first posted the leg problem a week ago, most people were saying it was a niacin difficiency, so I added niacin to their water daily. Then I was told that it is slipped tendons. I have tried to massage and excercise their little legs, but they are still not walking on their feet, therefore their little elbows/knees are getting scraped up. They move around their pen to eat and drink and play out in the grass. They are gaining weight and seem happy, I'm just really concerned. They have plenty of bedding to coushion their elbows/knees, but they are still getting scrapped up. I feel horrible.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Can you maybe post some photos?? Calling is difficult as the person you are talking to cant actually see what you can. A photo may not tell conclusively - but it may be able to rule out certain things.

Walking on the hocks does sound more like a slipped tendon issue- but possibly just severe niacin deficiency. If the legs are bowed badly enough it would be painful for them and they may have resorted to walking on the hocks to avoid pain. In nearly thirty years- I have never owned a duck that showed signs of niacin deficiency- but have had a few with tendon issues. Sadly some of the ones I have cared for not only had slipped tendons - but dislocated hocks as well- meaning there was no treatment for them.

Hopefully in your case your ducks are still treatable - but if not they can still live a relatively good life if you are willing and able to provide extra care they will need.

 

[smh6933]

I will try to post pictures later tonight when I get home. I too hope they are treatable, but if not, I will not give up. These little ducklings are my family now!

 

[smh6933]

Here are a couple pics, they aren't the best because I was trying to hold them and take them at same time. I can try to get better ones when my husband gets home. You can see that their elbows/knees are getting a little scraped up. And their feet are bowed in.

 

[duckyfromoz]

The last photo looks like you can see the joint with no tendon in place. It really is hard to hold a duckling and take photos - but you have done well to get them. How old were they when you got the ducklings - and when did the leg problems actually start?

 

[smh6933]

We've had the ducks for a little over 3 weeks now. One of the ducklings legs stopped working almost 2 weeks ago and the other has one leg that isn't working and that happend about 3 days after the first duckling. Our other 2 are doing fine. I just don't know what to do. I was told that its too late to try to put their legs back into place so I didn't know if I could put some sort of padding or tape around their elbows/knees to help them from getting scraped up.

 

[The Duck ABC's]

Are you giving them the right kind of niacin? There are two versions out there. The one that does not work in ducklings is the no-flush version. You want nicotinic acid, check the label. Also did I see cedar pine shavings in the image? That is toxic to ducklings. What kind of surface have you kept them on in the past? It is kind of odd to have that many ducklings with slipped tendon problems. Assuming it is slipped tendons. I'm just throwing things out that can effect legs. What supplements are you providing them with right now? They do need niacin supplement until they are 12 weeks old, are they still getting any? How about other supplements and what dosage are you giving?