Lame duck - urgent advice pls / how to pick up / other stuff

[kathyd]

Hi. Just when you think things are going swimmingly (ducks, swimming, get it...? Hmmm... ), something goes wrong. Mrs Duck No 2, Buffy, seemed fine yesterday morning but came to bed with a bad limp last night. It's still there this morning. I've read ducks have tender little tootsies and leggies, but have no idea what I should do to help her. I even realised this morning that I didn't know how to pick them up! I locked us all into their bedroom and pinned her in a corner, then the fun began. They don't feel like chickens do they?? They wriggle and writhe, and seem somehow slippy even when dry! And I was concerned that her frantic fighting might injure her poorly leg, so I gave in and put her down in the end. However, it's now 9:30 and they've still not emerged from their bedroom onto the pond. They normally do a runner as soon as the door's opened, which was about an hour ago. She's not laying yet, but must be due to start any time - her sister started a couple of weeks ago, and she's been about 3 weeks behind on everything else - but surely this wouldn't contribute to lameness?

1. Do I need to rush her off to the vet's? (we're going to the Uk on Thurs for a few days, so it needs to be tomorrow or Tuesday if I have to take her in before we go).

2. What's the best way to pick up a duck?

3. What/how do you feed a free-range duck? Sounds stupid I know, but I'm wasting huge amounts of layers' pellets at the moment, and filthying the pond, by chucking handfuls down round the edge, and into the weed at the edge - it mushes away so fast I have to keep topping up all day. Even leaving pellets in a feeder didn't work 'cos it gets rained on and mushes, and they ignored it anyway. They're eating plenty I know, but how do others feed them please? And what, if anything, apart from pellets and wheat? They get the same as the chickens, including 'lunch' (sunflower seeds, chopped fruit or veg, tinned catfood, etc. Plus their addiction of dried mealworms at bedtime ).

thx in advance

[Guest]

If she seems fine apart from lame I would take her to the vet tomorrow.

What type of ducks do you have? I have runners and appleyards and I scoop them up with one hand to the side, two fingers infront of the leg two behind and palm pinning the wing down with a firm hold. (yes pinning the wing down is important - flappy ducks can inflict short time pain )

Mine have layers from a bowl in the morning and they range during the day. Then treats as and when kitchen scraps, fruit and veg.

[Scarlet]

Kathy, I've never kept ducks so I can't really help.
Chickens can get bumble foot. A small swelling on the bottom of the foot, a good soaking in warm water, clean off the dirt, clean it and see what you've got but as I don't know how to pick them up....
Maybe use a towel to wrap her in?
I have a great link for feeding ducks...but I'm having trouble with. The paste option on my iPad..
Will try again in a bit

[Scarlet]

Feeding Indian Runner Ducks

The Indian runnerduckRunnerducks association advise during the winter to 3/4 fill a bucket with wheat and top up with water and sink in your pond. It doesn't spoil like the layers...not sure if that's any help?

[kathyd]

If she seems fine apart from lame I would take her to the vet tomorrow.

What type of ducks do you have? I have runners and appleyards and I scoop them up with one hand to the side, two fingers infront of the leg two behind and palm pinning the wing down with a firm hold. (yes pinning the wing down is important - flappy ducks can inflict short time pain )

Mine have layers from a bowl in the morning and they range during the day. Then treats as and when kitchen scraps, fruit and veg.

Hi NG - I have khaki campells - I love them to bits . OK... so you pick them up sideways instead of from the front like a chicken? And as long as they have access to layers at least once a day, I don't need to worry about them the rest of the day? They'd have me believe they're starving at the moment, the fuss they make when I go out .

[kathyd]

Feeding Indian Runner Ducks

The Indian runnerduckRunnerducks association advise during the winter to 3/4 fill a bucket with wheat and top up with water and sink in your pond. It doesn't spoil like the layers...not sure if that's any help?

Er.... I'm not sure, but thanks! I'll have to think about that one! I assumed that a diet of wheat would just make them fat, like chickens? I do give them wheat, but only in the afternoon with the chooks. I can't help feeling that wheat left underwater for any length of time would start going mouldy though... Maybe a very small bucket .

[Guest]

Hi NG - I have khaki campells - I love them to bits . OK... so you pick them up sideways instead of from the front like a chicken? And as long as they have access to layers at least once a day, I don't need to worry about them the rest of the day? They'd have me believe they're starving at the moment, the fuss they make when I go out .

They are greedy and yes they do try and have the geeses breakfast as seconds. I used to give them food at night but that was when I was likely to get food left and I have to be careful as there are rats around the village. Mine will only eat layers. I have tried wheat/ corn several times but not much luck. Similar story with veg - they will eat lettuce left, right and centre but show them some winter greens Also I pick mine up every night to put them to bed so I can gauge if they need more grub. Cold and wet seems to bother them more than not enough food.

Also if you are worried just look at their crops. It is not very often in the day I can't see them on my ducks

[Scarlet]

Er.... I'm not sure, but thanks! I'll have to think about that one! I assumed that a diet of wheat would just make them fat, like chickens? I do give them wheat, but only in the afternoon with the chooks. I can't help feeling that wheat left underwater for any length of time would start going mouldy though... Maybe a very small bucket .

They advised that the layers be kept under a canopy to keep it dry, the wheat (winter feed) in a bucket in the water. I don't think they meant all wheat.

[kathyd]

Greedy, yes! Or hungry, to the uninitiated, which is what they're counting on I guess . They're becoming very cheeky too - bossing me around, chasing off the ducks from any food anywhere! Even the cockerels run when Mr Duck waddles in a presumably threatening manner towards them, lol . Mind you, he did grab one of my smallest hens by the scruff of the neck one day and try to drag her off some grub - I couldn't believe it! Poor little Tufty! Mine eat a few layers, a tiny bit of wheat, the few bits of big corn I scatter, sometimes chopped tomato, and lettuce. Plus all my pond plants. Plus all the pond plants in the nursery pond they've now discovered. But greens? Nah, greens suck. They don't seem bothered by the cold and wet though, they even swim on the pond all day when it's snowing and icy, provided I break the ice around the edge for them first of course. I definitely think they're getting enough to eat, I just wasn't sure if there was a 'better' way to do things to avoid all the mushy waste around the edge of the pond, both inside and out.

[kathyd]

Oh dear Scarlet, now I need a canopy?? There's no end to the little luxuries required is there? Lol . I guess putting wheat under the water might keep the chickens off - they fish it out of the ducks' water bowl, but the pond's deeper so maybe more of a barrier. I've found a small washing up bowl, I'll give it a try, thanks . A bucket seems a bit OTT - I've only got 3 ducks!

[Scarlet]

I wouldn't sprinkle layers - wet feed isn't a good idea. The runner duck stuff is quite interesting. When I have my little breeding pen set up. I just use brick as uprights and several planks across to keep the wet off. (I know I've never kept ducks) but IMO if they aren't eating the layers you've sprinkled around they aren't hungry and are eating something else.
Tell us how your lame one does. My favourite cockerel had to go (he was about 8) cos he was lame. Not like me...but I took him to the vets too and had him in the house for a spell

[Scarlet]

I just read it again!! It said a "small" amount in a bucket filled with water. They dive under (good exercise) to get it and it also cleans their eyes. The whole article is worth a read. It did say that if you have enough area they could get enough feed from worms, slugs, grasses etc.

#please don't take everything I've said to heart! I've never had a duck

[kathyd]

I'll have a look at it over lunchtime, assuming my internet connection doesn't go on strike like it normally does... * sigh *. I normally sprinkle wheat at the very edge of the pond so it sticks in the surrounding grasses that are growing there, so they have to duck their heads to get that too - sounds similar . I'm glad I don't have to put a bucketful in though, lol .

My lame duck is only using her good leg to paddle today, which suggests to me it's a leg / hip problem rather than a foot problem? Is there any point taking her to the vet's for this at this stage? Not that I begrudge the 45 euros every time we go, honest ... but I don't want to risk damaging her leg further by a struggle to pick her up and get her in and out of the box etc. It seemed to happen quite suddenly rather than progressively, so I'm assuming it's 'damaged' rather than a birth defect or whatever?

[Scarlet]

If she's well enough to swim, let her be. I only took my cockerel because he literally couldn't get up. He had broken it! Not sure how. I kept him in a box for a couple of days in the house before I took him to the vets because he was happy enough (eating well etc) but it wasn't getting better. He was a favourite.

[Guest]

I would take her for peace of mind and the fact you are away. Would you regret not taking her if it got worse while you were away?