One Legged Duck

[7Maples]

We've had ducks for a couple years but this is the first time we've ever seen or hatched out a one legged duckling before. I mean we've had the occasional ones that hatch and die but we've never had any major defects like this happen. Those first days were the hardest with her just getting that leg's muscles built up but otherwise she does pretty good. Especially when she figured out how to get in the pool. Became a very happy duck then. She's a little small since she doesn't get near the amount of food as the others and runs off all she gets pretty quickly. She's almost 3 months now.

Has anyone else hatched out a one legged duck that's survived?

I don't have any close pictures of her because her mother is so very, very protective of her. The moment we step out the door, which has a little swinging bell, they take off away from us for a while. Except if we clean out the water and such, then they would come back.

 

[katharinad]

It does look happy. It may also be good that she is smaller, because duck legs are the weakest part of their body. This gives her time to gain strength on the leg.

 

[desertdarlene]

That's very interesting. I hope you get your answer. I've never seen a wild duckling with only one leg, but I know that some adults who have lost their limbs or lost the use of them do pretty OK.

 

[1-duckling]

At work on the huge pond we have Canadian geese that come and go. Last year one got tangled up in fishing line and no matter how hard we tried we were not able to catch him and remove the line. The leg fell off above the knee joint. Stumpy, as we now fondly call him, flew off last fall. He came back with his mate this year and is doing well. If Stumpy can survive in the wild, surely a one legged duck protected by a loving family should be able to survive just fine.

 

[stumble_n_mumble]

wow that is very strange. so cute tho. you are so kind in keeping him around even tho he has a defect. not many people have the patience. good job! just watch her as she grows and see how she can handle being an adult with one leg. then make the decision. she looks great right now! i have so many problem ducks and i rescue anything that comes my way. i have one duck thats leg was broken and twist at a 90 degree upward angle from a meat farm.... he is still kicking as an adult and just takes his time when moving around. he has nothing to worry about and is very happy with all the attention

 

[pardygwyn]

I had a Blue Swede who only had the use of one leg - the other was twisted up and shrunken uselessly at her side. She grew up, managed to hide a nest and hatch out more little gimp ducks, then eventually succumbed to bumblefoot because I wasn't aware you could do more about it than get them a Penicillin shot. With a pond and a person ready to jump in and treat any possible cases of bumblefoot, I don't see why this duckling can't have a full life.

 

[7Maples]

We were really expecting her to be one of the first to die. I'd just never seen a one legged duck before and wasn't going to get my hopes up but it's amazing watching her go. She is so fast! She can be about as quick as her siblings but only in short bursts. After losing two ducklings to our alpha male Rubber, he'd pick them up by the back of the neck and shake them until he broke their necks, we figured he'd do the same to her. He's tried to go after her a couple times but DD, her momma, would go over and flop down on top of her to protect her. I also figured that DD would end up trying to kill her too or just leave her, survival of the fittest but she's really shocked me. Probably because he mother was such a wonderful momma too.

 

[btroyer]

Since it has been some time I was wondering how your duck made out? I have a mallard that recently hatched some and one has one leg, they are half pekin so I am concerned with if this ducking will be able to handle the weight if it gets big like daddy.....

 

[t78allgood]

I am curious to see how your one legged duck is? I recently bought 2 ducks, pekin, and they gave me an extra one with a deformed leg cause noone wanted it.. we call him igor.. from the foot up to the knee is deformed and he can't use it. he struggles to get a round a bit but does alright.. he seems to be trying to learn to do without it but he is only about 2 weeks old.. he is slightly smaller that the other 2.. and when we go outside to play for a bit the other 2 won't go far from him..

 

[cdlady]

Did you post an update on this duckling?