The Poultry Keeper

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

I don't know if Sniffley is a he or a she. Kev thinks that if they are all yellow then they are girls, but boys have some black on them. I hope this isn't the case because I have one yellow duckling and three with black mohicans! I'm sure that you can't tell when they are just hatched, it is only when the head feathers develop that we will really know. I always refer to them as 'he' - don't know why - I'd much sooner have girls. My friend says they are too cute to be boys! Laughing

Sniffley has made it through the night, but is smaller than the other three. His legs are very wonky too - he has one in the right place, but his foot doesn't work. His right leg is pointing backwards. He can push with his legs so he is getting round his box, but I am not sure what will happen long term.

CP · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject:

Can ducklings can get spraddle legs?
With chicks you need to tape their legs to keep them straight. Don't know if there is anything in the Wiki about it? Confused

debcat · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject:

ducklings can get spraddle leg
a thin strip of plaster is easiest to use, just be careful it's not too tight

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

Please explain clearly what I need to do as I haven't heard of spraddle leg before.

Do I tape it's legs together? Shocked

debcat · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject:

hope this makes sense,
I use a normal sized plaster cut into a 1/2 cm strip.
you put one end of the plaster round one leg, tight enough so it won't fall off,
then the other end of the plaster you do the same to the other leg
it should look like a figure 8 (ish) with a leg through each hole

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

How long for?

debcat · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject:

2 or 3 days is quite often enough,
if you take it off and they're not quite right you can always put another one on

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

Many thanks. I have passed on the info to OH so we will do that and keep you posted.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

good luck you and Sniffley

jaydee67 · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:26 pm Post subject:

We had a duck that we didn't think would survive hatching, but he did. He had a foot that was twisted in at right angles and the webs aren't open. When the kids were choosing which ones to keep Peg(leg) was in there. He runs around with the rest with his twisted foot. Seems sixpence short of a shilling - made a ramp to the paddling pool - he went under it when everyone else went up it! He gets there eventually and is a definate pet. This is him in the sink when he was little:

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

He sounds lovely Jaydee

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

How cute is he!!

leebarton · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Elgin, NE Scotland

Well done for what you achieved. I think it is worth doing what you can, whenever you can.

Unfortunately Sniffley died last night. He was smaller than the other three, and a bit of an odd shape as well as having spraddle leg so I don't think he would have made any difference. At least we tried.

Knobby · Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:13 am Post subject:

Thatsa a shame, you gave hime a chance, thats the main thing..........Im sure others may criticize for trying, but most of us have good hearts and will do what we can !!! Sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

sorry to hear that ,we all try and do we can ,sometimes it works sometimes sadly it doesn't
suz