Welsh harlequin duckling with twisted foot...what can I do to help him? Pics included.

[Uponthemountain]

First time hatching ducks and for some reason they were very late hatching...5 days late!

All four are ok but one has a twisted foot, what can I do to help him? Hate seeing him like this. We will be keeping him but would also like to help him as much as possible too.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Uponthemountain]

Photos of our little boy.

 

[Uponthemountain]

Anyone? Worried the longer I leave it, the harder it might be to correct it.

 

[Orca5094]

Are you able to gently move that joint so the foot is flat and the right position? Be very careful not to cause injury! But if you can still move the joint, you should try a "boot" to fix this problem as soon as possible. You cut a small piece of plastic in the size/shape of the foot and then tape the foot onto it in the correct position. This will keep it in the right position for a few days and usually can fix things like this. Sometimes you might have to do it for a little longer, but always take it off after 2-3 days to check it and re-tape since they grow so fast.

This is a good site to look through for more information on leg problems and how to make a boot (they call it a "shoe"). The site is about chickens, but it all works for ducks as well:
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Uponthemountain]

Thank you very much for your reply. The foot is unable to go flat, I'm just able to make straight but not that extra 90 degrees to make the foot flat. I hope I'm explaining myself properly here.

I'm just going to have a good look at that site now.

I've just been reading about niacin, will that help? I've seen some on Amazon but not sure which one to buy.

Thanks again for your reply.

 

[Orca5094]

Niacin is always good for ducklings and to help foot/leg problems, so that would be a good idea. I believe the rule is to not get the "no-flush" kind, but other than that it all works. Just dissolve it in their water. I know you can find the proper doses on this forum if you do a search for "niacin ducks", or something to that effect.

Since you are unable to move the joint so the foot is in the right position, a vet might be in order to see if they can help. It's a difficult situation since if you can't correct it now, it will be like that forever. Sometimes ducks do just fine with leg/foot problems (I have one myself), but they usually need long-term pain meds when they get a little older so they can be comfortable. Walking incorrectly usually causes pain and swelling in the joints. My girl is on Metacam for when she has a flare-up, but her condition is not as bad as this little guy. Hopefully a vet can help you fix it though so it's not an issue.