Tiny duckling in brooder is limping :(

[Sparrow]

I've had my 5 little ducklings since Friday when I received them at the P.O. My tiny tiny Khaki Campbell(smaller than the rest), named Petal, has been limping on her back right leg since yesterday. I have no idea what could have happened to her, she lives in her brooder in my bedroom with 4 other little ones. They do not bully her at all, but I noticed she suddenly started limping when I went in to check her at midday yesterday. The leg works, but she sometimes holds it up just slightly off the ground, and doesn't want to put a lot of weight on it. When she stands still, she tends to hold it out to the side a little, presumably to avoid standing on it.

The leg doesn't otherwise look abnormal, but it seemed to feel warmer than the other leg when I was examining her today. I was able to gently move it and the foot up and down, and nothing feels broken. It didn't seem to cause her excrutiating pa in or anything, she fussed a little when I moved it, but nothing extreme. When she lays down(fairly frequently) she sometimes lifts her ankle up higher than normal, or stretches it out behind her.

When I first noticed her limping, I also saw her kind of nibble at her ankle(what most people call the knee on a bird is actually the ankle equivalent) a few times like that might be the area that is bothering her. What could she have done to it to hurt herself? Why is it warm, a sprain with inflammation? Infection? There are no external injuries at all. Should I just monitor her or give her something?

 

[Sparrow]

What do you think about giving her Vitamins and Electrolytes? I'm going to try to at least get those tomorrow to give all my baby ducks. I really want her to take them because she is so small. She is still eating and drinking...but also still limping.

 

[raindrop]

Ducks have very fragile legs compared to chickens. One of my ducklings was unable to use a leg for almost a week when he was 4 weeks old. I put him in his own small brooder (clear plastic so he could see his buddies), kept food and water close so he could rest and not struggle to move around.
I had him on meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) from a vet, used the dose 0.2mg/kg once a day for 5 days.
He is now completely fine.

I think the vitamins/electrolytes would be a fine idea. I would also supplement their feed with niacin, you can add brewer's yeast.

 

[Sparrow]

Thank you for the suggestion! I wonder if maybe she tripped over the edge of her food pan, so I am now filling it all the way to the top and burying it down in the shavings so the rime is just barely above the bedding. I just worry about her so much beca use she is noticeably smaller than the rest and not quite as zippy. I will call around and see if I can find the meloxicam and Vit/Electro. I was considering separating her, but the others seem very gentle with her and she is very upset if she is away from her buddies. If she gets any worse, she will have to be separated, though.