The duckling's legs are moving apart: what to do and what is the reason, prevention

A common problem faced by duck owners is the death of young animals on their paws. This phenomenon is due to many reasons, including infectious diseases, beriberi, malnutrition, and so on. Every owner should know what to do if the duckling's legs are moving apart. If adequate treatment is not provided in time, the bird may die.

Why does a duckling's legs move apart

Specialists identify three main reasons why a duck starts to fall on its paws:

1. Unbalanced diet.
2. Invasive pathologies.
3. Infectious defeat.

Veterinarians also name the following provoking factors:

• imbalance of trace elements;
• lack of amino acids;
• avitaminosis;
• poisoning of the body (toxic, chemical, biological);
• violation of the rules of content (free-range order, ensuring a comfortable microclimate, etc.);
• crowding in the room where the ducks are.

When a symptom is detected, the animal should be examined for injuries and other visible manifestations of the disease. If none are found, and the problem persists, you should contact your veterinarian.

Unbalanced diet

Improper nutrition provokes beriberi. The lack of vitamins and minerals leads to the death of ducklings at the age of one month.In addition, young animals suffer from various ailments, the growth of animals slows down, the paws and beak lose color, the mucous membranes become inflamed, and the paws of the bird part. Other symptoms of beriberi are weight loss, lethargy, behavioral changes - animals begin to pluck each other's feathers.

Invasive Pathologies

If a bird's paws are spreading, the cause may be infection with internal or external parasites. The first category includes worms, the second category includes lice, ticks, lice. In addition to the above symptom, a sick duck has diarrhea, feathers fall out, appetite disappears, and egg production decreases.

The vital activity of parasites reduces the immunity of the individual, and if left untreated, the duck may die.

Infection lesion

Infections are especially dangerous because they can cause the death of an entire livestock. The most common diseases among ducks are:

• hepatitis;
• salmonellosis;
• aspergillosis;
• tuberculosis;
• coccidiosis.

Infections most often enter the duck house along with chicks purchased from an unverified breeder. Another reason for the spread of the disease is the lack of vaccinations.

What should I do?

The first thing to do if the bird's paws begin to part is to place sick ducks separately from the rest of the livestock, and then call the veterinarian. If the cause is ectoparasites, you need to treat the animal, as well as the room where the birds are. Potassium permanganate, lime or engine oil are used to disinfect the duckling. A week later, the procedure is repeated.

To eliminate parasites in an animal, such means as "Deltamethrin", "Butox" are used. It is important to follow the recommendations of the veterinarian and strictly follow the instructions for use of the medicine.

To rid the duck of ticks, problem areas are treated with boron vaseline. The course of treatment is one week. There are three such courses in total, and they are held at intervals of 20 days.

To compensate for the deficiency of vitamins, the following products are added to the diet of animals:

• fish oil;
• carrot;
• bone meal;
• cottage cheese;
• eggs;
• eggshell.

Adult mallards are also given corn, pumpkin, zucchini, potatoes. In order to prevent an overabundance of one or another component, it is necessary to monitor the amount and frequency of consumption of products - supplements should not be too voluminous, and they should be given in portions.

As for infections, treatment is prescribed depending on the diagnosis:

1. Aspergillosis. Therapy is carried out using a weak solution of copper sulfate. They also prescribe Nystatin.
2. Tuberculosis. It is not treated, so sick animals are slaughtered and disposed of. Products obtained from such ducks should not be consumed.
3. Hepatitis. Represents a danger to young animals under the age of two weeks. Treatment is ineffective.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of external and internal parasites, you must:

• keep the duck house, drinkers, food containers in a clean condition;
• to create bedding use wormwood, needles and other herbs that repel parasites;
• recently acquired birds should be quarantined (at least for 3-4 days);
• bathing tanks should be filled with ash and sand and placed outside;
• control feed quality, diversify diet;
• exclude dampness, cold, excessive heat in the room;
• regularly treat enclosures from parasites (also subject animals to this procedure);
• in the event of suspicious manifestations, carefully examine the birds and, if necessary, contact a veterinarian;
• vaccinate animals;
• young animals kept separately from adult birds;
• avoid contact of ducks with other animals.

Cases when ducklings have their paws moving apart are not uncommon. It is important to correctly establish the cause and conduct competent therapy. To avoid problems, preventive measures are required.

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