need help my duck has a broken leg

Hi, This note is for Amiga,
I'm Diana from TX. I'm staying in an RV park where there's a pond and some ducks (6) and one of the females has injured her leg. She's been limping on it for several weeks now. Some days it seemed to get better and other days worse. This morning I noticed her regular male was with the two other females - (there is a story here: "Cotton-top", "Gimpy's" male mate, would run around trying to mate with "King Mallard's" two girls, but poor KM got run over or something mysterious happened to him that caused him to fall down dead on the side of the road, leaving the two girls and "Pierre" - (he's a lover not a fighter) hiding in the bushes on the other side of the road away from "Cotton-top" the rapist. During the course of several weeks I would not see the girls but Pierre got tired of all the shenanigans and returned home to the park's pond eventually making friends again with Cotton-top and Gimpy).

Over this period the three would come to my RV for corn feeding. If they didn't show up I would walk over to the pond and drop some feed for them and check up on them. I also would check up on the girls, try to find them and discovered a continuation of a "bayou" where they would be hiding out, "on the other side of the busy road". Turns out there was a small under road bayou passage. When they needed corn they would come home and show up a few days later.

I was worried when Gimpy didn't show up this morning for the usual feeding/foraging and got out to go find her. Thought she'd be on her nest of 6 eggs - took her awhile to go sit on them. Then I learned they won't until all eggs are laid. So no Gimpy until then I spot Pierre mounted on her and ding-dong Cotton-top allowing his mate to be mounted by of all ducks, Pierre. His own girl won't hang with him because he's such a pansy. I noticed that Gimpy really couldn't get away so she just layed there taking the mounting.

Then I started to walk over toward the three of them to give Gimpy some relief because I knew she had a bum leg. Finally Pierre runs away and Cotton-top too and she's left behind looking real bad. She's never looked so lame on her right leg and she was looking like she was in some pain. She recognized me and tried to hop on over to me. I took her some corn which she proceeded to eat hastily while in a laying position. She would limp off wobbly, barely, and then squat and rest. I feel so bad for her. She may not make it. Cotton-top has abandoned her and now the two other girls have become part of his new harem (King Mallard was the alpha male) along with Pierre. So all this time that Gimpy has been a faithful mate, she's "the odd man" out with even the lowliest member of the group (Pierre) taking advantage of her, which he NEVER got to do before because he was just spineless. Haha. Don't get me wrong - they each have their own personality and I love Pierre because he's pretty sweet and even tempered. But in the soap opera world of these here ducks, Pierre is finally getting some, but to the dismay of poor Ms. Gimpy.

I read most of what to do for Gimpy's leg from the case above (this thread) and it looks so similar to Gimpy's case. How do they even hurt themselves like this - I'm guessing from all the raping going on. Either way, I think I can try to help Gimpy. The park owner raised these ducks from babies, but he's not that fully vested by now, I'm guessing. There may be a way that I can single her out and give her some TLC. I'll need to get some kind of a kennel to keep her in and safe at night. We've got a couple ferral cats that come out at night. There's a fenced in area for small equipment and the owner mentioned one of the places he continued to raise the ducks after his wife said the bath tub was forever more off limits! Ha. So I'd sure like to see Gimpy have a chance at recovering.

So to reiterate: E.S. Compress wrapped around bum leg, Poultry Vitamins, Topical Antibiotic and possibly a stint?? Place in a quiet environment, with food and water and a little swimming pool too or no? Keep her this way for as long as she begins to show good progress. Could be several weeks, yes?

I've never done something like this before but I'm willing to give it a try. I don't know if I'll be able to catch Gimpy but by the way she's laying down so quickly and easily I might could catch her. But I should be prepared to take her to the hospital ward (the equipment area of the park) and get her taken care of. Stuff like this, dental infections, always seem to fall on a weekend when everything and everyone is closed until after the holiday weekend. Dang murphy's law!

Let me know if you got any other helpful tidbits of info that I should know about before I begin the rescue. Please tell me where I can get these healing supplies. There is a feed store in town that I could ask if they carry any of the vitamins and epsom stuff. Hope they do. Would make it much easier for me.

Thanks for your help.
Diana K - TX (I don't know if I'm supposed to do this or not but it may be quicker to get w me direct)
832 5 27 3270

DianaTX said:

Hi, This note is for Amiga,
I'm Diana from TX. I'm staying in an RV park where there's a pond and some ducks (6) and one of the females has injured her leg. She's been limping on it for several weeks now. Some days it seemed to get better and other days worse. This morning I noticed her regular male was with the two other females - (there is a story here: "Cotton-top", "Gimpy's" male mate, would run around trying to mate with "King Mallard's" two girls, but poor KM got run over or something mysterious happened to him that caused him to fall down dead on the side of the road, leaving the two girls and "Pierre" - (he's a lover not a fighter) hiding in the bushes on the other side of the road away from "Cotton-top" the rapist. During the course of several weeks I would not see the girls but Pierre got tired of all the shenanigans and returned home to the park's pond eventually making friends again with Cotton-top and Gimpy).

Over this period the three would come to my RV for corn feeding. If they didn't show up I would walk over to the pond and drop some feed for them and check up on them. I also would check up on the girls, try to find them and discovered a continuation of a "bayou" where they would be hiding out, "on the other side of the busy road". Turns out there was a small under road bayou passage. When they needed corn they would come home and show up a few days later.

I was worried when Gimpy didn't show up this morning for the usual feeding/foraging and got out to go find her. Thought she'd be on her nest of 6 eggs - took her awhile to go sit on them. Then I learned they won't until all eggs are laid. So no Gimpy until then I spot Pierre mounted on her and ding-dong Cotton-top allowing his mate to be mounted by of all ducks, Pierre. His own girl won't hang with him because he's such a pansy. I noticed that Gimpy really couldn't get away so she just layed there taking the mounting.

Then I started to walk over toward the three of them to give Gimpy some relief because I knew she had a bum leg. Finally Pierre runs away and Cotton-top too and she's left behind looking real bad. She's never looked so lame on her right leg and she was looking like she was in some pain. She recognized me and tried to hop on over to me. I took her some corn which she proceeded to eat hastily while in a laying position. She would limp off wobbly, barely, and then squat and rest. I feel so bad for her. She may not make it. Cotton-top has abandoned her and now the two other girls have become part of his new harem (King Mallard was the alpha male) along with Pierre. So all this time that Gimpy has been a faithful mate, she's "the odd man" out with even the lowliest member of the group (Pierre) taking advantage of her, which he NEVER got to do before because he was just spineless. Haha. Don't get me wrong - they each have their own personality and I love Pierre because he's pretty sweet and even tempered. But in the soap opera world of these here ducks, Pierre is finally getting some, but to the dismay of poor Ms. Gimpy.

I read most of what to do for Gimpy's leg from the case above (this thread) and it looks so similar to Gimpy's case. How do they even hurt themselves like this - I'm guessing from all the raping going on. Either way, I think I can try to help Gimpy. The park owner raised these ducks from babies, but he's not that fully vested by now, I'm guessing. There may be a way that I can single her out and give her some TLC. I'll need to get some kind of a kennel to keep her in and safe at night. We've got a couple ferral cats that come out at night. There's a fenced in area for small equipment and the owner mentioned one of the places he continued to raise the ducks after his wife said the bath tub was forever more off limits! Ha. So I'd sure like to see Gimpy have a chance at recovering.

So to reiterate: E.S. Compress wrapped around bum leg, Poultry Vitamins, Topical Antibiotic and possibly a stint?? Place in a quiet environment, with food and water and a little swimming pool too or no? Keep her this way for as long as she begins to show good progress. Could be several weeks, yes?

I've never done something like this before but I'm willing to give it a try. I don't know if I'll be able to catch Gimpy but by the way she's laying down so quickly and easily I might could catch her. But I should be prepared to take her to the hospital ward (the equipment area of the park) and get her taken care of. Stuff like this, dental infections, always seem to fall on a weekend when everything and everyone is closed until after the holiday weekend. Dang murphy's law!

Let me know if you got any other helpful tidbits of info that I should know about before I begin the rescue. Please tell me where I can get these healing supplies. There is a feed store in town that I could ask if they carry any of the vitamins and epsom stuff. Hope they do. Would make it much easier for me.

Thanks for your help.
Diana K - TX (I don't know if I'm supposed to do this or not but it may be quicker to get w me direct)
832 5 27 3270

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Diana K,

Hope you are still online.

Yes, you have a good plan. You can send me a pm. might want to edit your phone number off this post in case of trolls, I have it.

Some further thoughts - Warm water would be easiest on her while she has the injury. Cold water (below 75F) would cause muscles and blood vessels to tighten, I think. Warm water relaxes them and increases blood flow. So all the support you can give her - safe, clean environment, warm enough, plenty of fresh water, vitamins,electrolytes, probiotics, and I would back off on the corn and get something with more nutrients. Whole wheat berries if you cannot find a decent waterfowl feed. I use organic layer pellets from Blue Seal, but there are many decent feeds around.

Help my duck has a broken "ankle" (where the leg and foot connect). She is limping on it, but not going far. Is there anything I can do for her?
Thanks!!

Could it be a sprain, or even bumblefoot?

If you can get a photo that will help. And if you can get a good vet's help, that is best.

In any case, an Epsom salt compress is a good place to start. 2 tablespoons E.s. in half a cup of warm water, soak a clean cloth, wring it out gently so that it is still somewhat wet. Wrap the foot and leg in the soaked cloth. Hold it for as long as you both can stand it, ten minutes would be great.

I would follow that up with a tiny dab, worked in well but gently, of Traumeel or other ointment that contains comfrey or St. John's wort, but I am oriented toward herbal remedies.

Amiga do you know about a limp foot ? I have a pekin who now has 2 limp feet so I made 2 splints shoes so she can walk, the hocks are very swollen and hot . When she saw a vet for 1 limp foot she said it was not bacterial rather physical. the foot folds up or backward when walking on her own? Any input is helpful. she is healthy ,eats etc.Thanks ruth

mikeru said:

Amiga do you know about a limp foot ? I have a pekin who now has 2 limp feet so I made 2 splints shoes so she can walk, the hocks are very swollen and hot . When she saw a vet for 1 limp foot she said it was not bacterial rather physical. the foot folds up or backward when walking on her own? Any input is helpful. she is healthy ,eats etc.Thanks ruth

Click to expand...

If the hocks are swollen and hot, I pretty strongly lean toward infection. Infections can get into the joints. Did the vet actually check to see if there is evidence of infection?

She may, though, have arthritis, in which case she needs an anti-inflammatory. It is not uncommon for Pekins to get arthritis in their feet and legs.

hello everyone i need help..
i bought a duckling recently and it fell from the table so she started limping..the other day a pillow accidentally fell on it and now she lost the use of its other leg. i dont know if it's broken or what but the ldg doesnt move at all and neither the duck now
she just sit all day eating and drinking i tried once to put her in water and she seemed to use the leg it injured first to move around in water..so what can i do to
, we have no vets around and if someone can tell me please whats wrong with the second leg that is not moving

Amiga said:

You need to feel comfortable with whatever you do.

Epsom salts is a laxative so you do not want the duck to ingest any of it by mouth. That is why a compress (soak clean cloth in a water and Epsom salts solution, and wrap the cloth around the leg while you hold the duck) is the way I prefer to do it. I have used E.S. compresses with good success. If you need to do more research, do so, but the very best thing would be a vet. The forum is a way for duck owners to share their ideas and experiences, and you can take what you want to take from these ideas and experiences.

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I know this is an old post but the epsom salt helps alleviate some of the pain for the ducks. I have always found the easiest way is an epsom salt soak. I get a small bucket, like I think it’s a 3 gallon one, add really warm water and epsom salt…I put my baby’s bottom in so his feet are submerged in the water and sitting on the bottom of the bucket but I’m holding him. He sets his little bill and neck on my shoulder while I hold him in this epsom salt soak and I do this for 7-8 minutes, afterwards I place him in a clean tub of water where he plays, grooms and snacks for about 10-15 minutes.