[CameronS]

hello, needing a little bid of advice.


i have 11 naturally hatched ducklings, now about 5 days old. This morning i have had to take 3 indoors as they are struggling to walk and keep up. One leg seems to splay out behind them when they walk, causing them to fall over, they do not appear in pain.
Several others are limping but not as serious, the legs don't feel broken, i'm wondering if perhaps they have been stepped on??


Any suggestions/help much appreciated     

[darkbrowneggs]

It hasn't happened with my stock, but I have heard that if they are carrying a worm burden it can make ducks lame.  I don't know if this is true, but just pass the info on in case it is of use


Having said that I have had grown ducks go lame through catching their legs on something and then they generally recover in a couple of days, but never had ducklings with this problem

[CameronS]

having watched the rest it appears that the mother is clumsey, and stepping on them causing them to fall forward and jerking the leg, the three worst are isolated and will go through a serious of warm baths, over a few days and encourage them to strengthen the legs up again whilst keeping weight off.

[goosepimple]

Hi Cameron, goslings legs sometimes do this and the parents are gigantuan in comparison and step on them sometimes, often resulting in death.
 
We have had lame ducks and I have wormed them and it's passed in a few days. 
 
Good you are keeping them isolated - they shouldn't move about too much until they strengthen up, you'll probably find a week or so does it.  If you want them back with mum though she should be able to see them.  Livestock can't always be bothered with the weaker ones unfortunately and just walk off or keep up,  but it does give us owners the chance to become closer with the additional responsibility 
 
Hope they all end up healthy and happy, our ducks like brown bread squished to a pulp in ordinary milk when they are teenies and still love it for a treat when grown up 

[clydesdaleclopper]

One other thing to consider is Niacin deficiency - it often affects the feet. If the parents were being fed chicken layer pellets they may have been deficient which would have affected the ducklings.

[CameronS]

All birds are now back on their feed, a few days cage rest and a good dose of wormer has sorted them! roll on the next batch!!

[graham-j]

One other thing to consider is Niacin deficiency - it often affects the feet. If the parents were being fed chicken layer pellets they may have been deficient which would have affected the ducklings.

Hi,how can you right a Niacin deficiency.
I'm glad your little duckies are getting better what a clumsy mum.
i had a two gosling's go off there legs they responded to worming almost straight away.But yours defiantly sounds like the mum is too blame.

Graham.

[clydesdaleclopper]

Hi,how can you right a Niacin deficiency.

The specialist duck pellets will have sufficient Niacin in them.


It is vitamin B3 so brewers yeast should provide it. An excess of corn can contribute to Niacin deficiency so it is better to feed wheat. Also access to lots of leafy greens should help.

[graham-j]

Hi,how can you right a Niacin deficiency.

The specialist duck pellets will have sufficient Niacin in them.


It is vitamin B3 so brewers yeast should provide it. An excess of corn can contribute to Niacin deficiency so it is better to feed wheat. Also access to lots of leafy greens should help.

Hi,thanks any idea why ducks seem to need it and chickens don't.My geese get chicken layers pellets when they are laying but they also have plent of grass and also wheet.Certainly something to think about,not that I have had any problems.

Graham.