Baby duck question (leg problem)

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I'm 12 years old and I have Khaki Campbell ducks that hatched about 3 weeks ago. One of the ducklings has problems walking. His legs go out to the side, like he's doing the splits. Will he get better if he walks around and swims, or is it something he won't get well from? I hope someone knows. Kat :)

-- Kateri (seraphina_organa@yahoo.com), May 05, 2001

Answers

I've raised about 60 Muscovy ducklings with no health problems, so haven't had this problem. However, I know when racehorses develop leg problems, they are exercised in a special swimming pool. It allows them to build muscle structure without having to put weight on the leg(s). I would think swimming certainly wouldn't hurt, and just might help. By the way, be careful of water temperature. When I was raising one batch I decided to let them go swimming in the bathtub, in which water direct from the spring was put in. About an hour or so later found the two smallest ones dead. Either they got exhausted and drowned or died from hyperthermia.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), May 06, 2001.

It sounds like 'leg splay' I've never had to deal with it yet myself but have heard and read to make a 'hobble' of tape, 1st measure the distance between were the legs should be, then take a piece of tape [I think something not too permanent], cut the tape to more than twice the measured lenghth and wrap it in a circle, sticky side to the skin on the ducks legs, so that the legs stay at the correct distance apart, sticking the tape to it self in between the legs. Thats the best I know about that.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), May 06, 2001.

It sounds like splay (or sprattle or however you spell it) leg. It can be caused by slippery bedding for young birds but there are also other causes. What we do when we encounter it is to use a small rubber band to hold the legs in the proper position. Loop the band around one leg. Twist it a couple of times but don't get it too tight and put the remaining loop around the other leg. Both loops should be up over the joint in the leg. Make sure it isn't too tight but it needs to be tight enough to not fall off and to hold the legs into the correct position. It may take a while for the duckling to get around with this on. I think what this does is strenghten the leg muscles that are used when the leg is in the proper position much like a splint or cast. Check it periodically to make sure it isn't to tight. When the duckling is walking normally with this on you can take it off.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), May 07, 2001.

Thats a good idea, it sounds better than the tape. Where do you get the right size?

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), May 07, 2001.

The other half of fixing this problem is to change over to a bedding that is rough enough that their feet don't slide out from under them. Newspaper is a BIG no-no, it's much too slick. A screen or fine hardware cloth floor is ideal, both for texture and to keep things as dry as you can. They are easily cleaned, just take them outside and hose them off. If you have two boxes, you can just move them to the second one while you clean and dry the first. If you can't do that, then use a thick layer of wood shavings, or straw that has been chopped into short enough lengths that the babies don't get their legs tangled in it.

Good luck!

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), May 07, 2001.



The rubber bands we use are size 12. They came in a huge pack, the Brand name is Alliance (not that there is a "brand name" in rubber bands). They are really thin ones but seem to do the trick. Hope this helps.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), May 07, 2001.

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