MINK ATTACK

Hello. This is my first time posting here. We had a mink attack for the second time on Monday night. He killed our Indian Runner and injured 2 chickens and our male Rouen. The Rouen has a tendon sticking out of his skin. I trimmed some feathers and cleaned him up last night hoping to be able to pull up some skin and tape it down. However, that is when I realized that it's (I'm figuring here, with some knowledge of human body and how tendons work) a tendon going from one jaw, around the back of his head, to the other side of his jaw.
Here is what I'm doing: please note: we have no poultry vets. Yesterday I bought Vetercyn gel and am spraying that on the whole back of head including this tendon that shows. Also, antibiotic powder in water and I made a "pedialyte" mix so I'm giving him a mix of those. He really loves cat food and was excited to eat but he cannot keep the food in his mouth nor swallow it. He's drinking okay but salivates foamy saliva when he hasn't drank in awhile. This guy is the remaining one of our first ever ducks, ' so if there is any chance he'll be able to eat again someday~I want to give him that chance! Thanks for any input.
PS-these injured animals are inside our house, in the basement. No worries of flies or other predators. I've got them each in their own box.

As far as I know, the only chance he has to heal that tendon is a certified vet. I feel your pain, I don't have one either, but I think he would need surgery to fix it. I'm no expert, but the tendon would (probably, I'm not positive) need to be stitched together at the tear. Unless you can deal with a really special needs duck (tube feeding, help preening, basically constant care), it would probably be kinder to him to send him to heaven. There is a small chance that a vet who has experience dealing with tendons would try to help, but 1, itsy bitsy teensy tiny very small chance to find one, and 2, the outcome would be questionable. It would be pretty expensive, too. An escort to heaven would be the nicest/least expensive thing to do I know (from experience) it's really hard to have to give something a death sentence, but sometimes it just needs to be done.

*I have heard rumors* of really nice chickens who would take care of another sick/injured flock member. The closest thing I've seen to that in real life was a silkie "nursing" an EE who had lost two of her toes. It is very doubtful that another duck would help him out like that, but if you wanted to try, and since he is still fighting, you could. A duck who loves to hatch babies would be the best choice; a strong maternal instinct would drive her to help him because he is/would be weaker than her.

Thanks for the reply. Yesterday afternoon one of my daughters gave me the name of a 'famous' vet here in Michigan. He has a TV show on National Geographic! So, I googled his name, found his number and called. The man was standing right there and took the phone when the girl who answered told him what I called about. So, long story short-he told me I needed to CUT that tendon and sew the skin up around it! GAh!!! I looked at it some more last night but it's hard and dry and not moving. He is eating and drinking (this vet said there are no tendons around his head or neck for his jaw/beak) as best as he can. This vet also said that he is probably not opening his beak because of pain. We are continuing the Vetercyn gel sprayed on this neck/head along with antibiotic in water and I put his food in the water as well. He is feeling better and the beak can open a bit-he tried nipping at me today!

Well, in the case of a drake, nipping is a good thing! Glad you found a vet who know what he's doing, even if you can't take him in. It's more than I've ever had Let me know what happens!

mom212 said:

Thanks for the reply. Yesterday afternoon one of my daughters gave me the name of a 'famous' vet here in Michigan. He has a TV show on National Geographic! So, I googled his name, found his number and called. The man was standing right there and took the phone when the girl who answered told him what I called about. So, long story short-he told me I needed to CUT that tendon and sew the skin up around it! GAh!!! I looked at it some more last night but it's hard and dry and not moving. He is eating and drinking (this vet said there are no tendons around his head or neck for his jaw/beak) as best as he can. This vet also said that he is probably not opening his beak because of pain. We are continuing the Vetercyn gel sprayed on this neck/head along with antibiotic in water and I put his food in the water as well. He is feeling better and the beak can open a bit-he tried nipping at me today!

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@mom212 That is amazing when I saw you were in Michigan I immediately thought of Dr. Pol.

I sure hope your drake makes a complete recovery. Make his food like a soup so he can drink it instead of swallowing dry he maybe to eat better that way.
Bless you for giving him a chance it's amazing what they can recover from..

And remember minks can get through an inch opening so chicken wire is not going to keep one out hard ware cloth is the best predator deterrent there is but it has to be on the top to.

PS hope your chickens pull through too.

For very sorry for your loss.

OH!!! Dr. Pol is awesome I love his show, he deals with everything!