Severely Limping Duck

[Lemonade]

Hello! Almost a week ago one of my pekins started to limp, not wanting to put weight on her right leg. She has a few tiny bumbles but none as serious as what she had in the past. We gave her 10 min epsom salt baths for two days and her limping pretty much went away. But after playing in the rain yesterday, today it came back worse than before. The leg doesn’t feel overly hot and doesn’t look much different from her other leg in terms of swelling, but she keeps it off the ground as much as possible. How do I know if her leg is broken and what can I do to help? (First picture below is the injured leg, second is the other leg.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have you felt along the leg for any broken bones? Are you using Nutritional yeast or any form of niacin? how old is the duck? Could be a sprain, keeping the duck in small area for a while can help so she isn't overdoing. Water therapy is another way to get weight off the leg but keep it mobile. And Liquid B complex for leg health and strength.

 

[Lemonade]

Have you felt along the leg for any broken bones? Are you using Nutritional yeast or any form of niacin? how old is the duck? Could be a sprain, keeping the duck in small area for a while can help so she isn't overdoing. Water therapy is another way to get weight off the leg but keep it mobile. And Liquid B complex for leg health and strength.

Is it obvious when you feel a broken bone? Both legs felt pretty similar but this is a first for me so I’m not sure. She’s almost a year old in one month. There is niacin in our duck feed but yes we have brewers yeast and b complex as well. I’ll try to keep her in a smaller enclosure as well. Should I keep doing the epsom soaks as well?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I would keep up with the soaks just keep her from drinking the water. I would think if there was a broken bone you'd feel it. Maybe a fracture but they will all heal it just takes time. I'd opt for the b complex since it does such a good job on niacin deficiency better than other supplements.
Just like us humans when we have an injury rest is the best along with PT[water therapy]
Hopefully, you'll see much improvement with her having a few days of time out. Also drakes can cause injuries especially if they don't have water for mating. Not intentional but it can happen.

 

[Lemonade]

Thank you for the help! We only have two girls so I’m not sure what caused the injury. I’ll post updates if the situation worsens or gets better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Once in a while I'll have one of my Runners come down with a limp usually I just let them rest a few days and add b complex and water therapy and they get over it. Hopefully the same with yours . Stepping in a hole tripping over something, many ways to come up with an injury. Also is she laying? sometimes an egg will press on the nerves in the back as it travels down to be laid and cause lameness and limping but once egg is laid that is usually over.

 

[Lemonade]

Yes she has been laying. We got only one this morning but they were let out earlier than usual today.

 

[Lemonade]

Yes she has been laying. We got only one this morning but they were let out earlier than usual today.

Update: she did lay a squishy egg today so the nerve issue may have been the problem. After laying it she was able to stand on her right leg. She still limps however, so I will continue with the warm epsom soaks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good, she laid. Do you have any calcium Gluconate or calcium citrate? Either of them will help get her shells hard. Hopefully, her limp will get better now that she laid the egg but yes keep up the soaks.

 

[Lemonade]

Good, she laid. Do you have any calcium Gluconate or calcium citrate? Either of them will help get her shells hard. Hopefully, her limp will get better now that she laid the egg but yes keep up the soaks.

I don’t have either of those… I put oyster shells in their feed and occasionally egg shells. Is that enough? If not where can I get the calcium supplements you mentioned?