KyleG Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Sorry for making my first post asking for help, but I'm desperate to help this little duckling. My duck hatched him and 9 others on 08/08 and the poor thing can't walk properly. She originally attacked it, but when I tried to take him away she got very defensive and started to look after him. Yesterday we let them out into our garden for the first time and he really struggled, his mother kept looking after him and running when he got stuck but eventually he rolled into the river. We fished him out and I decided at that point it'd be best for us to take him in and see if we can help him. Now we've taken him, she's a lot more relaxed with us being around her and seems happier with the other 9. I've heard of splayed leg in ducks but I'm not sure if that's what he's suffering from? He's eating and drinking (though it's difficult for him to get to it sometimes) and when I've held him he seems generally healthy, he's perfectly capable of jumping quite a distance. But he does shake his head sometimes - I'm nervous that he's got a brain problem but he's perfectly fine otherwise. I tried to get a video last night and this was the best I could do: He's often falling on his back like that and I keep trying to correct him but it's not long before he's back again (I felt bad leaving him for the video, but wanted everyone to see how he was). Here's a picture of him as well: http://imgur.com/bubjKgv I've ordered some vetrap which'll be delivered tomorrow, so I can strap his legs together as I've seen recommended for splayed leg but I don't want to do that if it's not going to help. I'd love any help or advice anyone might have who's already been through this! I'm at work at the moment, but I'll be home in about 6 hours and can get any more information anyone needs. Thanks in advance guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleG Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 Forgot to add - he's a little magpie duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Hi I cant see the video or pic but if he does have splayed legs you really need to get the splayed leg rings on them in the first 24 hours I know this was difficult as he was with mum also she may have attacked him as she knew there was something wrong with him it sounds horrible but they cant be worrying about sick babies when they need to concentrate on rearing the others leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleG Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Unfortunately the first two days she had them in her house so we didn't even get to see them until Saturday I've actually gone ahead and strapped his legs and though he didn't like it much he does seem to have been a bit better. That might be me looking through optimistic eyes but I really do want to give this little one a chance, he's got a hell of a lot of fight in him still. Do you think there's no chance of him walking properly? I'm sure that is why she attacked him, we've had it before with birds we've raised sadly. But once I tried to take him she became so attached to him, it was adorable really. She'd run to him whenever he made the slightest peep and would nudge him over when he landed up on his back. My retired mother has been looking after the little one religiously, feeding him at least every hour and trying to do exercises to help him walking. He seems to have grown attached to her and is very happy being handled by her. The whole family has rallied around this little one, so we'd do anything we could to help him. On a happier note, I know it's a crime not to post duckling pictures on forums so here's a quick snap of the rest with mum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Hi now you have strapped his legs all you can do is keep an eye on him I would have taken another baby away to keep him company in the brooder and show him how to eat and drink it seems mean but mum would get over it normally once you get the leg bands on he should be up and moving sounds like you doing all the right stuff good luck leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleG Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share Posted August 14, 2013 I thought that was all we could do, he's got a lot stronger since he's had his legs strapped. He's often propping himself up against the side of the cage and taking awkward steps. He still thrashes around a lot when he really wants to get somewhere, or lands on his back though. I thought the same about taking one of the others to go with him, but he seemed so weak I wasn't sure he was going to survive the first night and then we'd have a perfectly healthy duckling stuck away from mum on his own. Also with the way he moves around his box I'd be worried he'd hurt another duckling. As far as eating and drinking is going he's got that down! He struggles to get to it sometimes, but he's not shy of eating and drinking. He's also being picked up and taken to the food on a pretty much hourly basis! Looking at the others, I'm pretty confident he's keeping up in size at least. Here's a pic of him from last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
