Young Duck went suddenly lame

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hope your duck makes a swift recovery!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be sure to update how Limpy is doing.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Be sure to update how Limpy is doing.

Good and bad news today:
Good news, Limpy is definitely better than yesterday! She/he is using its legs now to push forward, yesterday it was the wings and the tail feathers.
Bad news, I am sitting at the airport in Charleston now, waiting for my plane to D.C.. Won't be back b4 Friday night. My wife will care for Limpy from now on, and she's not feeling well either. Seems to be a sick week...

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Well that is good news. Hope your wife feels better soon.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Update from my Wife: Limpy is doing better, but still not able to walk.

Hospital visit on the grass...

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Latest update on Limpy's state: She/he is doing better and better every day, but i am not sure if she/he will ever be able to become an Indian Runner Duck again. I have recorded a video on Saturday afternoon and placed it on YouTube...

You can easily identify Limpy here. We keep her/him inside of a cardboard-box every night and supply her/him with additional Calcium/Magnesium, Multi-Vitamin and Collagen. She/he hates to swallow the tablets, so when we approach the box she/he tries to hide the beak under the belly, poor thing.
Even though walking has a bit improved today she/he cannot keep up with the other four. Yesterday i finished my project to fence in a large area around the house and when i opened the gate, four siblings took off to discover 2000 sqft of pasture and leaving poor scared, crying Limpy behind…
We need to hand feed her/him every evening with her/his favorite chick-starter crumbles because she/he is too busy the whole day trying to keep up with the siblings, won't eat and rarely drinks.
I am beginning to ask myself if that kind of life is really a life for any Duck…
It is raining cats and dogs here in WV since yesterday, so finally it got even too wet for the crazy ducks outside and they retreated into their chicken-house. Limpy could join them riding out the rains with its sisters and brothers. With Hurricane Florence approaching the Carolinas and heavy rains forecasted for the area here until the next weekend the Duckys might stay put for a while, but as soon as the sun will reappear four of them will start running around, and enjoying their lifes, leaving the fifth duck behind, loudly moaning…
Any thoughts?
Any experience if a duck can fully recover from botulism and how log will that take?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Poor limpy. Have you tried b complex liquid vitamin from tsc or even Walmart sells it. The liquid version is more concentrated so it might really help her. She looks well except for the walking.

 

[lena_]

Poor Limpy, is it possible she has bumblefoot? It is a condition that looks like lumps on the foot, and can be fatal if untreated. Just a wild guess, but the way she is hopping just looks like one of my ducklings that had it last year. Here's some pics, I'll put a spoiler because they're kind of gross.

Spoiler: Bumblefoot Images

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Poor limpy. Have you tried b complex liquid vitamin from tsc or even Walmart sells it. The liquid version is more concentrated so it might really help her. She looks well except for the walking.

Hi Soon2BChixMom,
i seriously doubt that Limpy has any deficiencies in vitamins and nutrients, since the Duckies have access to their part of the pasture, they've turned their back on the feeder on their platform almost entirely. Grasshoppers, moths and fresh greens are so much tastier than wheat and brewers-yeast and it's always about the hunt. My ducks remind me to little dinosaurs, when they are out in the rain, hunting and snatching insects out of mid air. I have not had a single tick since the Ducks are on patrol.
Giving extra vitamins and nutrients to Limpy is more to soothe our conscience, what is really important is giving extra food and water in the evening when we take her/him in. And keeping the bird warm and dry overnight.
I just started to ask myself, what if? - Are there wheelchairs available for ducks?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Poor Limpy, is it possible she has bumblefoot? It is a condition that looks like lumps on the foot, and can be fatal if untreated. Just a wild guess, but the way she is hopping just looks like one of my ducklings that had it last year. Here's some pics, I'll put a spoiler because they're kind of gross.

Spoiler: Bumblefoot Images

Nope! no bumble-foot, her/his feet are soft, no injuries. Being turned belly up, she/he is really able to push hard with the left leg, but the right one feels weak and limpy. What gives me some hope is the fact, that the paralysis started in the left leg, which is now doing fine…
We will just have to wait and see, bad thing is that i have to be in California next week from Monday to Friday again…
Thank you very much for your encouraging replies!