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does anyone have any advice for a lame duck?
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:52 am
by madzena
In my previous post I mentioned my duck was lame, I think it has happened through flying off somewhere and landing awkwardly.
the lameness is quite bad. I have confined the duck so he is having rest rather than more flying. He is looking very miserable poor thing. He can still walk about in his pen, but I have now closed off the top of his pen so he cannot fly out!
Any ideas what I could do to assist the little chap?
Heidi
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:02 pm
by Boots
Just responded to other one and have now seen this.
Not much you can do and it is pretty common. If it is a landing sprain it might come good in a few days. If it is a dropping injury that occurred when it was still young, it is more likely to be a permanent limp.
Ducks don't do a lot of walking naturally. They fly and they swim, and they are built for that. It is only in confinement or through domestication that they become a little more like 'landlubbers'. It isn't unusual to see domesticated birds limping. Many sustain handling injuries as people tend to release them beak first (which is not how they land) or drop them thinking they will bounce or something... they tend to thud! Some of my large drakes have developed limps in their second years... they are that big and are flat out dragging their weight around!
He'll be ok. But I think its safe to say he needs a home now, and release really doesn't look like a very real option.
Hope it all works out!
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:07 pm
by Boots
Oh, hang on... just wandered off and suddenly thought "Are you sure it's an injury?"
There is a waterbourne disease that cripples ducks... Is it just one leg that appears damaged? Or are both going?