Injured duck from dog attack

Zeny

Hatching
Mar 10, 2016
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One of my ducks and one chicken were killed two days ago now, by one of my dogs. I also have an injured white duck. It looks like his feathers were plucked from his back. His back is bare. I cleaned him up and put antibiotic ointment on him. I let him stay in the coop overnight as he was up walking around and drinking water. Yesterday, he went into his coop and laid down. I was worried he was going to give up. On advice from a friend, I cleaned his wounds again, peroxide, saline, and applied antibiotic cream with small amt coconut oil to his back. Then I placed him in a large dog crate that had clean bedding, water and food in it and put him in my garage. It has been raining constantly here the last few days and will continue to do so for several more days and so the area where he lives is very muddy inspite of me cleaning it up and putting down hay. Today, he wont eat or drink. I have put his beak in the water with electrolytes and vitamins tonight and he took a few drinks. I am worried what else can I do?????
 
I know it sounds weird, but is there any way you can move him, still inside the crate, and place him inside your run or near your coop? Maybe use a tarp or plastic bag to keep the rain off? Being near his regular flock and surroundings could do wonders. One thing I've learned is that ducks are creatures of habit and can be just as traumatized by a break in their routine as by the attack. Especially if he was friendly with the other duck that died, or is bonded to anyone else in your flock...

We had a raccoon breach our run last year and kill 3 of our 4 original Pekins. The surviving girl was depressed for a long time afterwards, even though we still had 10 other ducks. After awhile we bought another Pekin, thinking she'd bond to a new duck of the same breed. But she was never quite the same and ultimately she lived about 6 months after the attack and then just lay down and died one afternoon.
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A friend of mine swears by the use of ASAP colloidal silver to treat wounds in poultry. He used it successfully to treat a bird that had been attacked by a hawk. I have poultry and I have dogs and on one occasion my dogs injured one of my drakes so that he could barely walk. He held his wing at an angle and he limped. I picked him up and moved him into a safe place and kept a very careful eye on him . He showed rapid improvement over several days and is now fine. However, if he had not shown improvement quickly, I would have dispatched him to keep him from suffering.

I personally would give the bird 1 to 2 days to show improvement. If there was no improvement I would humanely dispatch it. Or, you can take it to a veterinarian and get a diagnosis. It is true that ducks can survive attacks from dogs, but at this point you don't know If it has severe internal injuries or broken bones.

I was having difficulty training my German shepherds to leave my birds alone, so now the birds are behind electric poultry netting and they are safe from my dogs.
 
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Unfortunately, our Aflac passed away during the night. I cannot believe how torn up I am about this. I tell myself people will be like "it was just a duck" but he was so much more to me. Today I reflect on my poor duck and the tragic accident that was my fault that ultimately took his life.......

Hey, It's Just a Duck

Hey, ya know it's just a duck
Except he had a personality
He loved to take a bath in his pool
He loved to eat grass
He loved to eat meal worms
He would run as fast a he could to get those worms
He knew the red bag
He knew you would feed him
He loved to stand in the stream of water from the hose
He loved to run in the grass and try to fly
He loved to follow Geico around
He fought a great fight to stay alive
Resting his head on your shoulder as he was given a bath and his wounds cleaned
He was calm and didn't fight you
He rested comfortably in the crate, inside, safe and warm
He tried to drink water but his fight was over
He laid his head down and went to sleep
No longer suffering, no longer having to fight to stay with you
He was at peace, right where he started
In the garage, in an enclosure, warm, comfortable, safe and LOVED!
But, Hey, HE WAS JUST A DUCK!



Anita
 
Thank you for the advice, but unfortunately our Aflac passed away during the night. It was a horrible accident that I pray I don't have to go through again. Two of my dogs are not interested in my birds, they lay out there with them, but I have two who cannot be trusted and are usually inside when the birds are out of their enclosure. I forgot the birds were out and let the dogs out. Didn't realize it until about 20 minutes later, but it was too late, they had killed one drake and one hen and severely injured this drake. I was hopeful he would survive, but unfortunately my efforts did not help him enough. May he rest in peace now. I pray it doesn't effect his mate or the other drakes mate. I have one Rouen drake with two female Rouens and one pekin female left. Thank you again. It has been a rough few days.
 

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