Two 5 week old ducklings with one bad leg each

[LindaMarieLaur]

Two of my 5 week old ducklings have one bad leg. They walk on their hock and use wings to help, but it seems to be more difficult. One web is mostly closed and it looks like they use them on the side not down like they should. I have been giving niacin in water for a week now. At first they seemed to improve, but they aren't. The legs aren't broken. They swim and move them around well in the water, but not on the ground. I read and checked the bad legs for dislocation. I cannot tell if it is dislocated. The one hock appears more swollen than the other. This week I have been leaving them in the night quarters in the morning after I put the rest out into their outdoors area and leave them with some food and water with niacin. The outside water has niacin and I put niacin in the swimming pool I use for the two of them along with some grass. Any help will be appreciated. I'd like to get them walking right. Next spring I plan to move them to my pond along with 3 adult ducks I already have. Hoping the numbers increase from 3 to 9 will help them multiply and survive on the pond. I have an island there with a duckhouse. I have a second duckhouse where the adults live inside a yard near the barn. Well I just put them out swimming which they use both legs for and then put them in the outside area. One is definitely walking on both hocks - looks like webbed feet are not being used. And when the sit the webs stick up in front of them.

 

[FortCluck]

Try vitamin b complex directly on their food or nutritional yeast. They may not be getting enough with it just in the water.

Can you post pics?

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

Yea, or post video of them trying to walk.

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

Try vitamin b complex directly on their food or nutritional yeast. They may not be getting enough with it just in the water.

Can you post pics?

Thank you. I bring them in about an hour ahead of the other 4 so I did put it in their water and on their food. I also put them out after the other 4 and try to get them to eat while they are alone. Will add to food tomorrow morning also. I've been watching them swim today and it looks like they use their legs well but that is to the hocks since they are swimming. When they tried walking I watched again and it looks like they use the hocks and nothing below. I'll try to get a video of them trying to walk tomorrow.

 

[Isaac 0]

@LindaMarieLaur

Have you read this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

I tried a video yesterday and may try again but meanwhile here are pics. One of them I can bend the leg at the hocks; the other I cannot. I am giving them niacin directly on their feed beginning yesterday and they swim for awhile every day.

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

@LindaMarieLaur

Have you read this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

Thank you. The more information the better

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

@LindaMarieLaur

Have you read this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/

I've been feeling around and I think at least one is a slipped tendon. I am going to stretch her leg with the help of someone else since when I begin manipulating it she struggles. If it doesn't snap back in, I will work on stretching it so it can. Thank you so much for the article.

 

[Trisseh]

Slipped tendon is the first thing that comes to mind when looking at the pictures, especially when you said at least one hock was swollen. There’s a lot of information out there on what to do and chances of success are much lower with older babies, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to try! It may be best if they are slipped and you’re able to replace it, to suspend them in a sling or “chair” so they don’t pop it back out until it settles again and they grow a bit.
Although, even the “normal” foot in the pics looks to be a bit twisted and pigeon toed. Definitely a good idea to up the niacin and make sure they’re getting it. They’re very individual with their requirements; last year’s batch that I raised, the smallest one needed to be supplemented even more on top of the regular amounts. He got a special little dish of treats with more niacin in it, and he also ate from the communal bowl. Eventually he became a great big bruiser of a drake so its worth the effort.

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

Slipped tendon is the first thing that comes to mind when looking at the pictures, especially when you said at least one hock was swollen. There’s a lot of information out there on what to do and chances of success are much lower with older babies, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to try! It may be best if they are slipped and you’re able to replace it, to suspend them in a sling or “chair” so they don’t pop it back out until it settles again and they grow a bit.
Although, even the “normal” foot in the pics looks to be a bit twisted and pigeon toed. Definitely a good idea to up the niacin and make sure they’re getting it. They’re very individual with their requirements; last year’s batch that I raised, the smallest one needed to be supplemented even more on top of the regular amounts. He got a special little dish of treats with more niacin in it, and he also ate from the communal bowl. Eventually he became a great big bruiser of a drake so its worth the effort.

Thank you. I did try to slip it back in by pulling the leg bag and massaging each side of the hock after finding the tendon. It didn't work but I will continue trying once or twice a day. I was going to have my sister help, but find that I can probably do it alone by laying them on their tummies and pulling the leg back to work it. I surely hope I am not too late. They are about half the size of their siblings which may be a good thing with what appears to be slipped tendons.