I found a Muscovey duck sitting on the side of the road. He seems normal in every way except that his legs are limp. I have him in a large dog crate and he eats and drinks, can flap his wings but can't walk or even stand. Any ideas?
Paralysed Duck
did it get snake bit??? any wounds?? burned feet from hot pavement?? Maybe a car just did clip it passing by and it took a bad tumble?? Put it in a pan of water deep enough it can't touch and see it it tries to paddle its feet. Try that a few times a day and see if it recovers. Poor baby
Thanks, Donna. Yesterday it didn't try to paddle in water; I'll try it again today. I could see no wounds or other injuries but I did think it might have been hit by a car.
The duck may be doing better. He still does not try to swim or otherwise move his legs, but he is able to spread his toes out! And his wings still work just fine. He does not fly but he uses them to beat me in the face when he does not want to be put in the muck tub for his swim-test. Wish him luck!
leave him in for a 5 or 10 minutes each time, several times a day. It will take all pressure off of him. Water therapy so to speak and will make it feel better. Standing out in the river up to my neck in water is the only time my back, hip, and shoulder doesn't hurt
Porkpal, I was wondering how your duck is doing, better I hope. Putting him in a tub of water like you did sounded like a good idea.
I think he is doing better. He has some use of his legs, the right is stronger than the left. He pushes back if I push up on his feet and he can move his toes. He does not like his "tub time" but it serves to keep him clean and encourages preening. (And wild wing flapping when he decides it's time to get out!)
happy to hear he is doing better PP
Great news, so happy to hear it. He's lucky you found him!
PP how is the scovey doing
He is not changing very much. He has some use of his right leg/foot but the left has a little muscle tone but not much else. He propels himself with his wings - a sort of butterfly stroke. I guess he does not like his water therapy; he climbs out of the pool. He is still eating okay, and preens himself so I suppose he is not really distressed so I will give him some more time.
I am sorry that I missed this post!
Some ducks are not as fond of water as others are ;o) Had you seen this little love in water before? or did he just appear? If he was not allowed water time in his younger days, his oil glands may be dry and he cannot get oily and stay afloat. Have you noticed any water beading on its back? I know this has nothing to do with its legs...just wondering...
We had a duck that had been hit by a car. I guess it took around 2-3 weeks before we knew that he could walk. He is now part of a family at the lake and quite a looker! lol
Good luck,
Kim
This duck definitely has been a pond duck; he can float in his little pool and water beads on him, he just seems to have other ideas and climbs out after a short "swim". Today he seems to be using his right leg better but his left just trails out behind.
He can even float on his back and does not seem to think it odd (perhaps he's brain damaged?)
wow have sever seen a duck float on its back
Well, I put him in that position, but he was content to stay that way for quite a while.
I dont know if this applys to ducks but when i was a kid i raised orphaned birds and after a lil while they would get paralized legs like your discribing.i called the suncoast seabird sancuary and they told me to buy childrens poly vits (without iron) I guess what was going on was they were getting a thiaman defiency(probly not spelled correctly) .The vits brought them out of it within a couple of weeks and they began to hop normally.Mabie feeding the duck duck feed is helping him.Like i said i dont have any idea if ducks have the same problem but it sure worked for the mockingbirds,blue jays and black birds i often raised and released.
I think he is partially paralysed because he was hit on the highway but supplementing with vitamins couldn't hurt, thanks.
A quick update on the injured duck. He now seems to have full use of his right leg, and he can wiggle his tail, but the left leg is very weak and he rarely uses it. He prefers to sort of crutch around using his wings. He hates his pool and will only stay in it for a few seconds before flailing his way over the edge, I doubt he can really float well as he has ruined his feathers flailing around. I have not given up on him as he seems to still be progressing - slowly.
yeah Great to hear PP. If it can get around he should do o.k. Maybe in more time the other leg will strength some more.
Wonderful! You have done a great job nursing him back to "health!" I do hope he continues to regain strength.
You know, porkpal, when you are not around, he is swimming laps and leading the other fowl in rousing calisthenic routines, right?
Clever monkey....
So that's what is really happening to his feathers!
maybe molting now too. My ducks are
It is molting time. My duck hen is molting. Muscovies can take or leave water and they don't fly because they are too heavy. Maybe if you tie his wings down before you put him in the pool he couldn't flap then. Make the water just deep enough that he could stand in it. It would give him a bit or bouyancy but make him use his legs. Just a thought.
I had thought of tying his wings down to make him use his legs but the wings are very strong, I have trouble just holding them in when I pick him up. My Muscovies could fly fairly well but this guy will have a lot of feather-growing to do before that is possible again. None of the Muscovies I had liked to swim so I'm not surprised that he doesn't. Wading would probably be good for his lags though.
that is so strange because for 2 summer I had a pair of wild type Muscovy come visit my pond. Boy were they pretty with the beetle green sheen and colored bills
I was wondering how your duck was doing, any improvement in the strength in his left leg? Have you named him?
His name seems to be "You" as in "Hey you", "come back here you", "now where are you?" He is getting gradually stronger and harder to catch and hold. He still can't really walk although he does get the left foot under him now, he just pushes and does not support himself. He is also molting so he looks dreadful!
I glad You is getting stronger! He was so lucky to have you find him. I always read that molting is so awful, is there anything that can be fed to make it a faster process, or is it up to mother nature?
happy to hear he is still slowly improving
LOL I love the names ;o) Glad to know things are getting better....even if slowly!
Porkpal...I loved the upside down pic. What a great lady you are for working with this little one. If they could only understand the compassion of persons like you...Hay
Well he thinks I'm a royal pain and I suppose it inspires him to a speedier recovery.