Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: dawne on August 17, 2008, 17:37
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I hatched out 4 alyesbury ducklings just over a week ago. To begin with they seemed fine, but the smallest 2 have delveloped what i think is Spraddled legs. However they were walking normally to begin with and in the smallest it started with one leg and now its both. They fall onto thier backs and cant get up. Otherwise they are healthy and happy, have looked at how to brace the legs but when i put it on the smallest does not sit but drags its legs behind it!!
Is this spraddle or something else, a last resort would be to cull but i know it must be done if all else fails.
please help
thanks
dawn
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It sounds like spraddle leg. I don't know about the brace but with chicks we put a piece of wool around the legs in a figure of eight shape. With ducklings I suggest a thin type bandage or ribbon. Try to get approximately an inch gap between their legs. You might have to adjust the size gap depending on the size of the duckling. I hope this helps........it helped ours and we left it in place for about 2 weeks. Good luck :)
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Hi Dawne
What have you got on the bottom of the brooder??
Also what type of food have you got them on??
Leg problems can be inherited or can be caused by nutritioal deficencies, if they're on Duck starter crumbs that can be ruled out :)
Try again as Aggy suggests and make sure they are on a towel or similar so they can grip
Good luck :)
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Thanks for the quick replies! They were on straw but have put a blanket under them yesterday to try to help, also they are on chick crumbs as I have chicks as well, do they need a different ration? I have tied up the legs as shown in various pictures i have looked at but it is very active and just throws itself about in to get to food or water. i can sit a hold it all evening that might help :D what do you think
dawn
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Ideally they need to be on Duck starter as the Chick crumbs can sometimes (depends who's you use) has medication in that the ducks don't need :)
Also chick crumbs(depends on who's you use) may not contain enough Vitamin B
Brewers yeast powder sprinkle on their food that has been slightly moistened to make it stick or put it in drinking water.
I think another way of getting Vit B in to them is Marmite, kate's written about it on here somewhere, I'll go have a look brb :)
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they are on organic chick crumbs so should not have anything unecessary in them.
Another chicken problem i have (why does everythin go wrong all at once)!
I have a chicken who has suddenly started going down on her knees! she is only just over a year old any ideas?
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Also a small amount of marmite on a bit of bread can boost their vitamin (B or D or whatever vitamin is in marmite!) that they need.
It was Rob that had written that, knew I'd seen it somewhere :)
The other thing is a Niacin deficiencie which again is due to chick crumbs, according to my book you can buy Niacin tablets/powder at a chemist?? "add 100to 150mg per gallon of drinking water until they are 10 weeks old if using Chick not duck starter crumbs,"
Reading all this from my book so soz its taken a while
"if niacin deiciences are not treated in time ducklings can be permanently stunted and or crippled"
Sorry I know some of the above doesn't sound brill but it appears it can be altered if this is the cause
Might be worth trying to get some duck starter crumbs :)
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many thanks will do what i can :)
dawn
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It seems Marmite contains Niacin as well ! :D
It still tastes 'orrible :x
Good luck with them. I think you ought to post some photos up just to be on the safe side :roll:
Rob 8)
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According to the book it will quickly repare damage if you can get some Niacin into them :D
So Marmite sounds like a good move :) Err hate the stuff meself :lol:
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Likewise. Luckily, the ducks seemed to enjoy it. :D
Just for reference MARMITE NUTRITION (http://www.marmite.co.uk/love/nutrition/nutrition.html)
Rob 8)
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it is as we speak happily tucking in to marmite on bread soaked in its water so fingers crossed, i will let you know what happens.
Dawn
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You realise it may become addicted and will head for Burton-on-Trent as soon as it is old enough :shock:
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O that's fantastic news Dawn
I'll keep everything crossed for you :D
Piccies would be lovely
Oh ye and not sure about the problem with the hen?
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May seem a bit obvious but does she do a lot of jumping ?
ie. off perches,etc
Just a thought. Have you checked for foot injuries or bumble foot ?
Rob 8)
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its got vitamin e deficacy !! due to you feeding them on poultry crumbs . getting the wrong vitamins !!
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Hi Rob
Just had a look at the chicken and she is one that likes to roost during the day so it could be and injury although there are no obvious signs, no cuts or sores etc. She is not overweight either it has only happened for the past couple of days so will keep an eye on her, can you give animals arnica?
Dawn
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I can't see any reason why not
I've used rescue remidy before :)
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Got absolutely no idea on that one !!
I know germolene and, obviously, tea tree cream are ok. But that's my limit. Obviously wouldn't help with soft tissue injuries, if that's what it is.
I knwo bumble foot gets suggested a lot but again, I have no experience of it and don't know how to diagnose. Was it sudden and has it got worse at all ?
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it was sudden which suggest injury i suppose
Have tried and failed to upload pics of duck, file is too large but not sure how to make it any smaller!
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Hmm. Does imply injury doesn't it. I'm wondering if it's both legs affected or just one but she's unable to support herself on the good one. It seems unusual to get 2 bad legs suddenly.
For photos, once you upload to photobucket, you can edit the pictures and resize them. 640x480 is the ideal size.
Rob 8)
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Pic of duck, hope this works, also the vit E diffiencency is that curable, I have succesfully raised other batches of ducks on chick crumbs and 2 of this batch are fine.
http://s513.photobucket.com/albums/t331/dawnepearse/
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Hi Dawn
I'm going to ask Kate to have a look as soon as she comes back,
Looking at the photo's you''ve done a geat job with the hobbles.
I have just gone through Storeys guide to ducks again and all the pointers go to the Niacin deficency.
Iam really not sure about the Vitamin E so will ask Kate to have a look :)
Is she/he still eating an drinking ok ??
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Eating and drink fine, and very lively, thats why i am trying so hard to help the plucky little thing :D
will give more marmite this morning. seems to like it
dawn
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That's great if it's enjoying it, horrid stuff :lol:
I've pm'd Kate an asked her to put her to have a look at photo's etc, she knows alot more than me :lol:
Anything else in the mean time give me a shout
I'll do me best to help :D
Sarah
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It does look just like the textbook hobbles that I've seen. :)
I tried to read up on niacin rich food but can't find anything suitable.
Would guess a vet could advise and/or sell you something hideously expensive :roll:
Rob 8)
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slight progress :)
We have made the duckling some shoes!! and it is pushing up therefore excercising its muscles hopefully, we have also contained it with anti roll cushions so it remains upright, it has had marmite, boiled egg and vit E oil, if this lot does not do it nothing will.
Dawn
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Awww good luck Dawn, sending lots of healingy wishes from over here :wink:
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im very sure its vit e deficancy because suzy my female goose got it when she was 1 week old . and how it happend is i fed my 2 goslings chicks the male was fine because he eat plenty but because she didnt have enough she wasnt getting as much vitamins as she should of been .
how you cure its is plenty of greens and waterfowl starter crumbs instead of poultry starter crumbs .
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Can you be 100% sure you didn't miss hear an Vit E for a Vit B R66 :?
I have 3 duck/geese books here and they all point to vit B & Niacin
I'm only saying what Im reading but it's weird all 3 suggest same an none mention Vit E :?
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Also sounds like Vit B (of which niacin is one) problem to me as my books also really concentrate on Niacin deficiencies in realation to leg problems although calcium can be a problem. Most grain and feed is high in vit E so it would surprise me although I am not an expert. Apparently ducklings usual source is insects but marmite has some in it. I used Lifeguard tonic in their water which gives the required concentration of niacin plus others which is a little pricy but I've had no problems. Of course it might not have made any difference at all. :lol:
You can get it in tablet form from a chemist or health shop and dilute it in water (its also called Vit B3 or niacinamide)
Good luck
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Oops, have just realised that when I did my maths the figures I have are for mg/l and not gallons so would not fulfill all their requirements, especially for treatment once established. Sorry :oops:
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Update:
Went to the farm shop and got a soluble vitamin pack, this morning (although it could be wishful thinking) it appears that there is more strength in the legs as the duck is able to balance now whereas before it just kept falling over, still has the hobble on but the shoes came off!
After observing closely and thinking back to what had occured, I think it probably is a defficiancy although of what I dont know. The duck was fine when it was born, waddling around with the others then gradually got worse, one other duck which is not so badly affected is also being given the vits, he just has a problem with one leg, which is the same leg as the other duckling first had a problem with. This is why I think it may be a defficiency as there seems to be a pattern of events.
Fingers crossed they continue to make progress, dont want to think of the alternative now that we have become buddies :D
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Sounds good Dawn,
Will still keep finger crossed for you,
please keep us updated :)
Sarah:)
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Ok everyone, this morning I made that dreaded decision, they were not improving any further and so the time had come. As I write this I have tears welling up :cry:
I think that what I have most learnt is that a quick cull once you realise it is sick is probably better than getting attached and putting off the inevitable.
Thank you so much for all the advice, we are moving to a smallholding in the next couple of weeks so no doubt you will hear a lot more from me!!
Dawn xx
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So sorry to hear about your loss. A very brave and commendable decision made there Dawn!
Good luck with the smallholding - what do you plan to raise there? Will you be totally self-sufficient?
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That's a really tough call. Very brave of you but such a shame it didn't improve. :(
You'll make alot of people jealous with your smallholding. All the best with it and don;t forget to post photos. :)
Rob 8)
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Really sorry to hear about the duckling Dawne :cry:
Sometimes these things are best done,
you might've found you'd have had more problems further down the line
Well done for being able to reach decision and do
Sending big Hugs,
Looking forward to hearing all about the smallholding & seeing photo's :D
Sarah :)
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Thanks for all your support everyone really appreciated.
The smallholding adventure is one we are really looking forward to. There are 7 stables so the primary income will be from DIY livery but the rest is up to us. We hope to become self sufficient eventually, I am a qualified organic gardener so that bit is no problem, its the larger animals that will all be new to us and things like paddock maintainence, hay making, solar energy etc,etc,etc. Great challanges ahead, and a few laughs thrown in for good measure :lol:
Dawn xx
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Really sorry the ducklings didn't get better and well done on a really horrible decision. Hope you have more luck in the future and keep us all up to date with how things get on