Aylesbury duck has a twisted back...

[Luke P]

hey all, poor little jemima never seems to catch a break! she started with pigeon toes which has since cleared up with a diet of increased niacin. but as of the last couple days ive begun noticing that she walks with almost a sideward curve in her back..... she can still run and doesnt appear to cause any pain but just looks so... odd... ill attach some pictures, does anyone have any clue whats caused it and if/how it can be fixed?

thaaanks

 

[onaharley]

Hi! She sure is cute. Sorry you are having a tough time right now. I'm not much help, but don't worry someone with more experience will be along to help shortly.

I'm wondering if it's like scoliosis

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Perhaps a congenital defect or it suffered trauma to the spinal column.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly a Deficancy in diet..?
Lacking in proper minerals and vitamins...?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Luke P What is Jemima's diet?

 

[Luke P]

I'm wondering if it's like scoliosis

yeah, i had similar thoughts... though i have no idea how youd treat something like that... my brother used to have it and had to do daily stretches but i cant really tell jemima to hahaha

Perhaps a congenital defect or it suffered trauma to the spinal column.

i have doubts of it being a birth defect... its only showed up in the last couple days trauma is unlikely too as all she does is sit walk and swim

i guess another deficiency is possible... initially they were being fed non medicated chick starter then the naicin deficiency happened so we supplemented that and then found someone who sold lauke mills duck and goose starter (though he poured it into a smaller bag from an un marked box rather than us having to take a 20kg bag... so i assume it was truly duck starter...) were almost out of that anyway and will be buying a big bag of lauke mills duck finisher for them to continue eating soon

 

[Miss Lydia]

It may have been a birth defect and was so slight it wasn't noticeable but now that she has grown some you can tell. If you can have a vet take a look at her you may get some answers. Some animals including birds just don't assimilate nutrients right and need extra vitamins etc like some females need more calcium than other females to lay a hard shell egg or some ducklings can have a niacin deficiency and others in the same hatch don't seem to need it.

 

[Luke P]

hmmm possibly... between the likelyhood of finding a vet thatll look at ducks and the likely costs involved at this point i cant see my parents being too keen on the vet idea :/

i can certainly add some more vitamins to the diet... though i have no idea what to add...

i guess its similar to wry neck so ill find some good sources of vitamin E as well as others and start expanding their diet from just pellets too

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you can get a good poultry vitamin that may help although this maybe nothing you can do, it sure doesn't hurt to try.

Vet care can be expensive and most of us don't have that option so we try what we have. I keep Poultry Nutri Drench on hand and probiotics in case I see one who may need extra help.

 

[chickens really]

Has she had a growth spurt?..Possibly just needs to catch up to itself...