Some of the duck eggs hatched and one has a foot that is curled in a claw and won't uncurl. I am quite worried. She limps around with some difficulties. What caused this? I am very worried, if she still has this problem when she grows up she's going to end up as predator food. How should I treat this? HELP PLEASE!
Thanks,
Jonathan
Farming Friends Forum » Ducks
HELP! Duckling born with a foot that won't uncurl...
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Hi Jonathan,
You can make a shoe for the duckling. Cut the shape of the ducklings foot out of cardboard or using pipecleaners make a 3 pronged foot and then uncurl the foot and attach this to the foot and keep it on for a few days until the foot uncurls.
Check out this link as it explains this with a guinea fowl chick / keet that had curled feet and it worked. http://farmingfriends.com/curled-toes-on-guinea-fowl-keets/Curled feet can be genetic and due to inbreeding or it can be due to a vitamin (riboflavin)defiency in the breeding stock. It can also be due to infra red light in the brooder.
Good luck, hope your duckling gets sorted.
Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 3 years ago # -
Oh dear poor little mite. this is normally due to too much inbreeding. It's only safe to breed ducks down by three generations, thne new stock needs to be introduced. Fingers crossed Sarah's remedy will work out ok.
Sarah LSarah LPosted 3 years ago # -
Thanks everyone. I'm going to see if the foot uncurls by itself for a couple of days, I have enlisted my nieces to nurse and gently massage the foot. If not I try the foot/toe guide/cast idea.
Googled to see if any pictures of a duck with a foot cast and was surprised to find some marvelous pictures & story about the Curled Toe Treatment being used on a turkey chick by the Animal Medical Centre, in Chorlton, Manchester, UK.
Article: New shoes for Trevor
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-479839/New-shoes-help-Trevor-turkey-chick-walk.htmlPosted 3 years ago # -
Hi Jonathan,
Interesting article thanks for sharing. Hope your duckling gets sorted. Here is reference to a quail chick that had curled toes and it was a success wearing a shoe http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=328
Let us know how your duckling gets on.
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 3 years ago # -
Thanks to everyone for the advice. Unfortunately, the duckling with the curled foot passed on the other day. It was probably for the best, the "foot cast" treatment was tried to no avail, looks like the entire leg had been deformed.
I hate to even consider the possibility of inbreeding... couldn't be a vitamin deficiency SINCE those bloody ducks eat better than I do <wink>.
I wonder if the wonky incubator had anything to do with it... the heat kept jumping to 102 then dropping to 97. I started with 21 eggs in that batch and only four survived (five if you count the curled footed one).
I had a couple ducklings who died hatching from the wrong side (HOW DO YOU TELL WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIDE?) and several eggs with dead almost full grown ducklings.
Thanks again, Cheers,
JonathanPosted 3 years ago # -
Hi Jonathon, That is so sad that you only had such a small hatch rate. Can not advise but do so sympathise. One of the ff will be sure to give you some answers.Regards Mama
Goose GirlPosted 3 years ago # -
Hi Jonathan,
Yes it could be the temperature variations that affected the hatch and the curled feet.
There are a number of reasons why duckling is fully formed but not hatched http://farmingfriends.com/reasons-why-fully-formed-chicks-may-not-hatch-out/* Improper storage of eggs whereby the eggs become too cold.
* Eggs not turned correctly.
* Temperature incorrect – too low or too high.
* Humidity incorrect – too low throughout incubation.
* Improper ventilation.
* Infection or disease.
* Poor diet or poorly conditioned breeding stock.The pointed end of the egg should be facing down for most of the hatch which is easy when you have an egg turner to place them in but then you have to take them from this 3 days before hatch and this is when it's difficult for the eggs to be facing the right way. I think choosing eggs that have a definate pointy end is a good idea, if they are too similar at either end then it's difficult to tell which is the correct end.
This incubating and hatching lark is not easy - just shows you how clever nature is!
Kind regards
sara @ farmingfriendsPosted 3 years ago #
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