Pigeon-toed duckling! Will they straighten out?

[MrsClucky]

Hi everybody--
I posted this question a couple of weeks ago but I'm getting more and more worried about Doris. She's a Pekin duckling, now about 5 weeks old and severely pigeon-toed. She steps on her own feet, has a lot of trouble walking and sits down most of the time. Last time I posted, a couple people replied that she'd grow out of it but she hasn't and I fear I have a disabled duck. Or could this really be an awkward phase? If she is disabled, she'll still have a happy life here but if there's something a vet can do, I'd prefer she walk normally.

ALSO--they went swimming for the first time today and NOW I'm worried that it was too soon. They are mostly feathered with a little down. Because Doris sits on her belly so much, she was/is covered with poop. I wanted her to get cleaned up and she seemed to really love the kiddie pool. Was in for an hour, on and off. She seems fine but it's a little chilly and drizzly out.

Any and all advice much appreciated!
Thanks, Bea

 

[bt03]

When she stands do her legs shake? If she sits a lot it seems like it would be a niacin problem. Some ducklings just need a bit more than others and that's ok. I had a duckling a few months back that was starting to trip over his feet before I really looked at him. It turned out that I needed to supplement his water even though the other ducklings were just fine. A bit of extra niacin for everyone might not be a bad idea just to make sure they are developing properly.

At 5 weeks that is a lot of pool time. Even though they are getting a few feathers they will still need warmth, like a heat lamp, when they get out of the pool, especially if they are outside in chilly/drizzling weather. Did you dry them off when they got out of the pool? They will need to be dried because they don't produce the oil yet that is needed to keep the water away from their skin.

 

[MrsClucky]

they had a vitamin/electrolyte supplement in their water for the first few weeks - I'll make sure it has niacin and continue to add. I haven't seen her legs shake, she's just horribly pigeon-toed. She CAN get around - especially when she wants to get away from me

And other than he feet, she appears to be very healthy.

As for the pool, I have emptied it and will hold off for a few weeks. They went into their coop with heat lamp shortly after their swim so had a warm night. She seems fine this morning.

Thanks for your reply - Bea

 

[blondiebee181]

I have a couple Runners that are slightly pigeon-toed, maybe I will give them a bit of Niacin to see if that helps...it's not really bad but I would hate for it to get worse. So just mixing it in the water? Is there a brand anyone reccomends and/or where to get it? Also are dosage directions on the bottle? Thanks

 

[Toni R]

I just recently got some Peking ducklings and one has turned out Pigeon toed so i will make sure i put niacin in the water too. i did use Rooster booster in the water the first couple days, i think i will now put it in again...

 

[Learningstill]

Our little mallard is pigeon toed. He used to trip on his feet all the time, but he has learned to walk just fine. I do not think it is related to niacin unless there are other signs like weakness. I would not worry unless it looks like there is a problem.

 

[Sfraker]

I have the same issue with one of my ducklings. After a week of niacin in the water she is almost all straightened out

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I have found that the Dumor chick starter contains Niacin. Not sure how much tho. I have always used that plus Sav-A-Chick powder mixed into the water. As Niacin is a B Vitamin, you can also add a drop of infant liquid vitamins without iron, or you could sprinkle some Brewer's Yeast on the food. If the Niacin isn't enough, and you certainly should see results quickly, then you might n need to make a "hobble" . I've never made one, so I think your best bet might be searching for how to do that and/or contacting (PM) so one who has made one before. I think that is normally used pretty early after hatch, but I guess it might be worth looking into.

I don't really allow ducklings to swim until they are fully feathered. They absolutely need to dry afterward or will suffer chilling.

 

[laughingdog]

I got help from some on here about, not able to locally get brewers yeast, i got niacin that i empty half of 250mg capsule into each gallon of water after grinding down as fine as will go, making sure to shake well before pouring. general directions from most were 100-150mgs per each gallon of water. there are two kinds of niacin, one non flushing. and something else that thought was kind that helped, but not sure, but went with what was only kind i could find that didn't say anything. I switched from purina sunfresh flock raiser (found out only for meat type and use birds/broilers ect, even though bag implies different, if read tag), to dumar chick/duckling starter/grower (20%), and using nutri poultry drench at three drops per KC duckling directly or in water. one out of six that was worse, is still pigeon toed from bowlegging, but slowely seeming healthier at least. also was using ACV and probios, and will not be breeding from two that had bad and got so worse. i moved them to a kiddie pool for brooder for more room to move around. i have had no trouble oddly with these KCs ever being messy except with water, and never get poop on any.

my local avian vet just chases tail anyone and treats/steals cattle and said: any thing but a macaw that i wasn't willing to put thousands into treating, i should just break its neck, as he won't bother even looking at (I'm in TN!), and said same to old lady who brought seventeen year old budgie with simple "cold" who was waiting with me an hour to see "the avian specialist".

 

[CrazyDuckFarms]

Thats a breeding fault. Usually when i see that i correct it by making a hobble and even taping their legs and feet to correct it early as soon as i see it even right out of the egg. Best time. The food is a possible issue too but i have a duck or two that does it- i full them as soon as i see it in my adult flock. I mean its never 100% correct but the hobble has worked for me if yu want them to walk correctly. I see this a lot more in ducks. If hes 5 weeks its gonna be hard just watch the protein cause it will make him grow fast and put weight on the wrong places if you should not be able to correct it. Best of wishes