Why do call ducks go lame?

[kenmisk]

I have an old female 3 yrs old and she cannot stand on her legs. She was fine until about a week ago and now she won't stand up. She works her way around her cage and is eating and drinking ok. She seems healthy, but cannot stand up with out falling over. Any help would be appreciated.
Ken

[Evy]

Is she in with a drake or other ducks? Has she been moved recently ? If she's being bred, she may be broken down by an over active drake. If she was caught up & moved recently, it's possbile that stress has made her go down. A sudden diet change or even ingesting a foreign object is a remote possibility. Usually, time will remedy things. It's hard to diagnose without seeing the bird or knowing all the particulars.

[kenmisk]

Thanks for the reply Evy, no she was with the same drake she has been with for 3 years and in the same cage. She did pull a toenail out and it was bloody, but I wouldn't think this would affect both legs. The diet is the same, Purina duck grower. I did move her from the drake as I wanted to breed him with a duck, as he is one of our best males. So now she is in a different cage with another duck.
Ken

[Evy]

Make sure there's no infection....heat, swelling, etc. on the foot. The change may be all that's stressing her. Does she have swim water? That's the best exercise.

[Oregon Swedes]

The only thing I can think to do is to check the bottom of her feet. Maybe she got a small injury on the pad of her foot when she pulled the toenail out and developed bumblefoot.