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Hi. Just when you think things are going swimmingly (ducks, swimming, get it...? Hmmm... ), something goes wrong. Mrs Duck No 2, Buffy, seemed fine yesterday morning but came to bed with a bad limp last night. It's still there this morning. I've read ducks have tender little tootsies and leggies, but have no idea what I should do to help her. I even realised this morning that I didn't know how to pick them up! I locked us all into their bedroom and pinned her in a corner, then the fun began. They don't feel like chickens do they?? They wriggle and writhe, and seem somehow slippy even when dry! And I was concerned that her frantic fighting might injure her poorly leg, so I gave in and put her down in the end. However, it's now 9:30 and they've still not emerged from their bedroom onto the pond. They normally do a runner as soon as the door's opened, which was about an hour ago. She's not laying yet, but must be due to start any time - her sister started a couple of weeks ago, and she's been about 3 weeks behind on everything else - but surely this wouldn't contribute to lameness?
1. Do I need to rush her off to the vet's? (we're going to the Uk on Thurs for a few days, so it needs to be tomorrow or Tuesday if I have to take her in before we go).
2. What's the best way to pick up a duck?
3. What/how do you feed a free-range duck? Sounds stupid I know, but I'm wasting huge amounts of layers' pellets at the moment, and filthying the pond, by chucking handfuls down round the edge, and into the weed at the edge - it mushes away so fast I have to keep topping up all day. Even leaving pellets in a feeder didn't work 'cos it gets rained on and mushes, and they ignored it anyway. They're eating plenty I know, but how do others feed them please? And what, if anything, apart from pellets and wheat? They get the same as the chickens, including 'lunch' (sunflower seeds, chopped fruit or veg, tinned catfood, etc. Plus their addiction of dried mealworms at bedtime
).
thx in advance
1. Do I need to rush her off to the vet's? (we're going to the Uk on Thurs for a few days, so it needs to be tomorrow or Tuesday if I have to take her in before we go).
2. What's the best way to pick up a duck?
3. What/how do you feed a free-range duck? Sounds stupid I know, but I'm wasting huge amounts of layers' pellets at the moment, and filthying the pond, by chucking handfuls down round the edge, and into the weed at the edge - it mushes away so fast I have to keep topping up all day. Even leaving pellets in a feeder didn't work 'cos it gets rained on and mushes, and they ignored it anyway. They're eating plenty I know, but how do others feed them please? And what, if anything, apart from pellets and wheat? They get the same as the chickens, including 'lunch' (sunflower seeds, chopped fruit or veg, tinned catfood, etc. Plus their addiction of dried mealworms at bedtime
). thx in advance
)
and had him in the house for a spell 
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