4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[rachel2390]

Hello everyone.

 

Have not been on the site for a while. Everything has been going fine with Martha and Davina and have been getting 2 lovely eggs every morning for quite some time now.

However, this morning when I went out Martha appears to have developed a problem with one of her legs since last night and has it tucked up close to her body and can't put any weight on it. She made a valiant attempt to scramble for the food as usual but something obviously isn't quite right.

I have read that Aylesburys can develop problems with their legs and feet due to their size. I couldn't get close enough to inspect it properly but her foot appears ok and their didn't appear to be any obvious injury. Is it possible it could be broken and if it is is their anything that a vet would be able to do for her? They have a brick to help them get in the pond but don't tend to use it when they are getting out which is usually more of a jump out although it is not very high. It is one of the plastic sand pit type ones. Any advice appreciated as it has started to get quite cold now and I am concerned that she could be in a lot of pain.

 

Regards,

 

Rachel

[Guest]

HI

 

What a shame. As long as she is eating and drinking and just perhaps make sure she is kept a bit rested(ie keep her more confined but within reach of her companions so she doesnt get stressed). Even to keep her in completely on dry bedding etc.

 

A Vet may give her some steroids ie injection but rest is probably the best thing. I have strapped ducks legs up before but have found it a waste of time.

 

If she was mine and didnt appear to be suffering I would rest her for a couple of days on some nice bedding ie hemcore and build up outside time. Depending on how they are ie not doing well I would probably take her to the vet just to give the pet a chance as a last resort really..some might not agree but they can be hard to treat)

 

How about a low long board to get into the pond?

 

Good luck

indie

[rachel2390]

Hi Indie,

 

Thanks very much for your reply. Martha seems fine and has been eating and drinking well today. I can't see anything obvious other than she does not want to put weight on it. She is still able to get about (slowly) but when I try to get close to her she is shuffling off. Neither of them are really tame ducks and I know it would be distressing if I made a grab for her to try and inspect it more closely.

I think I have a plank of wood in the garage that would only get chopped up for firewood so I will try putting that up as access to the pond. Neither have been in today and they would normally both be in as quick as a shot as soon as the water is changed.

I have been looking on the internet today and their is lots of advice on splinting their legs but I don't really think that is an option for me. Lots of people saying that if you did find a vet that would look at your duck they would probably recommend to have it put down if it was a bad break....I can't bear thinking about that at the moment..

 

Regards,

 

Rachel

[Guest]

Hi

 

If she is fine in herself just see how it goes, if she did need putting down(hopefully it wont come to that just yet)? quicker to get someone experienced to despatch than the vets!

 

But mine use to get leg injuries on and off and sometimes made miraculous recovery?

 

When you look at what those little stick legs have to carry..hope she gets better

 

indie

[rachel2390]

Thanks Indie,

 

She did seem a lot better when I went out this morning and was able to put more weight on it but was still limping. The same when I got back from work....moving about a bit better and has been eating and drinking fine. I still had 2 nice eggs waiting for me this morning! I will see how she does over the next couple of days and try and decide what to do over the weekend if it is still the same. I am hoping that because their has been an improvement in the last 24 hours that it isn't broken...however I have no idea whether she has adapted to whatever the problem is...could that be possible if it was actually broken? I would imagine that it would become worse not better but I am still very new to all of this!!

 

Regards,

 

Rachel

[Guest]

Trouble is they are very good at hiding ailments sometimes however if she is eating drinking and even laying still, she sounds like she is coping ok

 

They are so prone to leg and feet injuries ducks, just seems to go with the territory..I suppose if it actually gets any worse then take action ie vets etc but you sound like you are doing the right thing by keeping an eye on her anyway.

 

Fingers crossed she will recover..indie

[beckyfitz]

Hi Rachel, sounds like she might be Ok but just wanted to let you know that a good vet can help. My young Campbell had a broken leg in the summer. The vet tried antiinflammatories first but when there was no improvement he x-rayed an found it broken. He did an excellent job of splinting the leg whcih we had to have changed every week for about 4 weeks & now Louis is just fine, not even a limp. All in all it did cost me nearly £100, but I couldn't have 'dispatched' him!

HTH,

Becky xx

[rachel2390]

Hi Becky,

 

Thanks very much for your advice. Fortunately she has made a massive improvement over the last week and she appears back to normal thankfully!

However, I noticed she has not been in the pond all week and I can only assume that she did maybe injure her leg getting in or out of it, so I took Indies advice re making a small ramp with two pieces of wood to make it easier for them (although they did seem to be managing to get in fine by stepping up on the bricks) and neither of them have been near it since yesterday!! They have not even been drinking from it as they usually do.

It has obviously upset them by having the wood there for some reason. Will leave it in place for a couple more days and see what happens...

It is a shame as they both enjoyed going in the pond and Davina has had it to herself for the last week whilst Martha has not been 100%...

Hopefully they may get a bit more adventurous and have a walk up the ramp!!

 

Regards,

 

Rachel

[miller30]

Hi im glad your ducks leg is better ducks never like anything new give them a couple of days and they may forget about the wood and use their pond again i remember when we made are indian runners a new big pond they wouldnt go near it they had been hand reared by me and thought i was their mum so i had to put my shorts and wellies on and get in the pond making funny duck noises as i went they followed me in and loved it the neighbours thought i had a screw loose my partner loves telling everyone but i dont care it got them to use their pond.

[Guest]

Re the wood ramp

 

Interesting the last post as the ducks I acquired recently were herded up to the pond and ever since they arrived they always go to the same spot! I thought ducks were not very intelligent but they do remember exactly where they entered the pond and will not use any other route which would be easier!

 

Mind you I dont think I could take to going in with them like Miller30 has!! Mad or what & with sound effects too!

 

indie

[miller30]

Hi indie i thought i made quite a good mother duck

[Guest]

Well at least it worked but pics are needed every time!

 

indie