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Barnyard Buddies:  One of my ducklings hurt her leg :(  |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 3:27:31 PM
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When I'm outside working in the back yard, I've started taking my 3 week old campbells outside for some sun. I had the whole brood out playing in and around their favorite puddle (2 inches of water.) When I went to collect them they all ran away from me (normal) except one. When she tried to get up, she wobbled and tried to put herself on one leg and flailed her wings around. 10 minutes before she was fine as I watched them waddle across the yard in a line with the others.
I brought her in with the others then examined the leg she wasn't using and she's holding it totally limp. They were not attacked by anything because I was watching them the whole time. At worst she could have been stung by a bee (maybe.) I can't see any bite or other obvious injury. She is very bright and alert and is peeping a lot unless I hold her very closely and she calms down.
I fed the others and she took a little gruel from my fingers so I put a serving of food in front of her next to a saucer of water. She is eating and drinking on her own. She just can't stand and her leg and toes are limp when I pick her up. When she lays down she curls up her toes and lets her leg lay behind her.
All the other ducklings are extremely active, and she is responding to them, and seems frustrated she cant follow them.
Any ideas? Could she have broken her leg? just strained it playing? I'd really hate to lose her but I can tell she hurts :( Nothing feels broken. And oh my goodness, I just offered treats and she was so excited to get at that lettuce she was trying SOOO hard to get to me for it.
I don't have ANY other poultry, and like I said I've had them for 3+ weeks and the hatchery was their last exposure to other birds. I don't even has close neighbors with birds.
I've been pretty thorough with their nutrition. They are all fed a 50/50 mixture of Gerber rice baby cereal and yellow cornmeal with occasional leftover strained Gerber fruit and veggies mixed in. The baby food has niacin already in it.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
Edited by - Dusky Beauty on Jul 17 2011 3:59:25 PM |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jul 17 2011 : 7:38:03 PM
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it sounds like it is dislocated with nerve damage, if that is the case, you can have the leg removed, and she/he will be fine on one leg, I have had one legged chickens, a turkey, and a few ducks, and they do fine...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jul 18 2011 : 2:00:19 PM
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The leg is still warm and has a pulse, and it seems like she flexes her toes.
I put her in the bath to swim with the others and she just trucked along. I made her a nest on my desk and she's finally accepted me for comfort when yesterday she just wanted the other ducks. I spent hours doing research about duck leg injuries, and it seems like she will be fine with tlc since she's moving it a little and is motivated enough for normal behaviors.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2011 : 12:19:22 PM
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Today she is up on her good leg leaning on the other ducks and against the wall. She's quite vigorous! We've sort of gotten into calling the group "Duck Duck" but she is the only one called "ducky" LOL
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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Candy C.
True Blue Farmgirl
823 Posts
Candy
Mescal
AZ
USA
823 Posts |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2011 : 09:36:16 AM
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Hallelujah! She's walking on it and favoring her foot! I read about many duck owners who's ducks were recovering for MONTHS and never walked quite right-- I was afraid if she recovered at all it wouldn't be till she was nearly ready to lay. Worst of all when I held her she would tremble constantly (the others don't) and I was frightened it was a pain reflex.... the last thing any farm woman wants is one of her animals to suffer :(
but, hey! she's ok and they are all enjoying the outdoor mobile pen hubster and I made-- grazing, eating bugs, and using the stairs to get in and out of the little tub I set up for them.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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Barnyard Buddies: One of my ducklings hurt her leg :( |
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One of my ducklings hurt her leg :(
