WHAT DO I DO??

Don't panic just yet If she is limping then the most likely possibility is that she has just hurt her leg through general duck clumsiness. Leg injuries are very common in ducks - they seem to go out of their way to trip over and run into things. An injury from a cut or scrape is possible too.

If you haven't already, catch her (move slowly to avoid making her run) and settle her down then have a good look at both her legs and feet. You are checking for anything that looks out of alignment, is unusually hot compared to the other leg or is swollen. Also check for any cuts or any point at which something may have punctured her leg or foot. Check to see that all her toenails are there - sometimes they can get one caught and pull it off and that will cause limping as well. If a toenail has been pulled off you will possibly just see the 'quick' which will look like a little pointy jelly thing.Don't touch it because it will hurt.

Also look under her feet for any signs of large, swollen lumps with what looks like a scab in the middle - that can indicate an infection in her foot and that kind of thing can cause limping. If you see that then do a search for 'bumblefoot'. All ducks (except babies) will have callouses on their feet from walking around, which is normal (especially on the heels). Rough callouses are nothing to worry about - what you are looking for are large, swollen looking, rounded lumps.

If it seems to be a puncture or cut that looks swollen and infected then she will need antibiotics from a vet. If it is a toenail that has been pulled off then don't worry, it will heal by itself. Just try to keep her on clean litter and keep swimming water as clean as you reasonably can. If you can't see any visible signs of an injury or swelling anywhere then it's quite likely that she has just strained it. In most cases strains and sprains will heal up - if it is that then you should notice improvement over the next week. Just try to keep her quiet and away from drakes that might chase her. Swimming is good exercise for strains.

Let us know what you find when you examine her closely

 

Cocoa pretty much nailed it. I hope to read the results of your body check. *fingers crossed* no breaks or wounds!

 

Cocoa pretty much got it. I came home to my pekin limping and not wanting to walk on his leg. I still to this day have no idea how he did it, but I just made sure I kept him nice and calm and quiet for a few days until it healed. Nothing is broken if she is still walking / limping on it. Must have just bruised some thing. I kept my pekin in his enclosure for 3 days and after lots of rest he was good as gold. Now he is crazier than ever, he outruns me.

Good luck with it all. I hope she gets better soon.

 

I had a drake who started limping one day this summer and then he could barely move. I "isolated" him in the pen with at least one other duck to keep him company. Then, the next day or so a duck caught her webbing in a pricker bush while free ranging. I didn't realize it at first. All the ducks & drakes got up besides her. She couldn't get up and then flailed on her side. I started to worry there was some awful disease spreading around. Then I saw she was caught on a pricker bush thorn. The thorn had pierced through the webbing on her foot. She only had a tiny tear (1/8 to 1/4 inch or so) in the webbing. I carefully got her loose after she started to attempt to free herself because I was worried she would tear it more flailing on her own. I poured peroxide on the injured foot and then put on antibiotic ointment (w/o pain killer, which I have read is toxic to ducks) & kept her in the pen too. Then I took them both to the only local vet I know who will even deal with ducks. She said the one with the tear would be fine. You can't even see the tear any more. The vet said the drake had strained a tendon in his foot. She said to let them hang out with the others and not to restrain their movement. Perhaps your duck has a strain or sprain. I had worried he had an infection or bumble foot as his foot and leg were hotter on the one side than the other one that was not injured. I told her I cleaned their coop and pen often but that they poop a lot and it gets gross pretty quick. She then dryly remarked in a low voice...... "That's why the call them FOWL".