[Carshay]

Things have improved a bit in the chicken run- the Babcock now gets off the roof for a few mins at a time but now I have a limping runner duck! She is the most nervous one and I think seems to have injured a leg. I can't see blood & she can hobble on it so I have decided to leave her & see how she is tomorrow as she will be very stressed if I try to catch her. BUT I feel guilty - should I do more or am I doing the right thing?

[Springlands]

If you cannot see an obvious injury I would leave it and see how she is tomorrow - if there is not improvement you could then try and catch her to take her to the vet on Monday.

They can heal quite quickly - one of our ducks was injured in a fox attack in which we lost one hen. He had a fairly minor cut - we just made sure that he had plenty of water to bathe in and in a couple of days he was completely back to normal so hopefully the same will apply to your duck.

They can be such a worry because they cannot tell you what is wrong and you are quite often guessing what the problem is.

[Carshay]

Thanks - ill hope for the best

[Carshay]

Thanks for the advice. Millie seems fine this morning - probably strained it trying to go somewhere she shouldn't!

[Springlands]

Glad to hear that she appears better - I think that because ducks are more at home on water than on land and because of the weight distribution they are possibly more vulnerable to leg problems than hens.

[Kate and her Ducks]

I have found this too, particularly with the runners. I think the just zoom around and injure themselves but have always picked up quite quickly.

[jamima]

My friend who's a breeder said this problem occurs occasianally as it has in mine he said it was a food imbalance and it corrects it self.Will find out more from him .