ashnduckies
In the Brooder
I had two khaki Campbell ducks (5-6 weeks). I have been keeping them in their brooder in a small room attached to the house. The night before they started hopping out of the brooder (I used a large plastic tub with a clamp lamp). I wanted them to spend more time outside so I wouldn't have as much to clean off the floor. I set them in their pen this morning and later my husband and son went to play with them. He found one dead and the other appeared to have a gash on his face. He didn't get into detail about what the dead one looked like since I was attached to that one and pretty upset. I ended up putting antibiotic on his cut and putting him up to rest. He appeared to be okay.
Later tonight I was looking at him with my neighbor and we noticed another wound under his wing. I also noticed he was walking a little weird. One foot kept going over the other. My husband does not think it's broken because he swims and walks with it. I gave him a bath, put more antibiotic, and put electrolyte in his water. I think I will get oral antibiotic tomorrow as well. He seemed to enjoy the bath, is eating/drinking/pooping okay, and bleeding stopped. He is quieter sadly. I'm guessing shock. I feel horrible he had to watch his buddy like that. I am not sure if I should get him another duck/duckling or try and raise him as a house duck.
I am not sure what got to them. I set them out pretty early and my husband found them around 11am. I didn't think a cat would take them on but that's what I'm leaning toward. My neighbor said she saw a huge raccoon recently but I didn't know if he would be able to get over the fence. I don't know raccoons though. We are currently looking to get a house off a lake so any suggestions for defense from the predators would be great too.
T.I.A
(Sorry if the pictures are hard to see sometimes. I think it's the darker color and I didn't want to scare him too much by handing him and putting out his wing)
Later tonight I was looking at him with my neighbor and we noticed another wound under his wing. I also noticed he was walking a little weird. One foot kept going over the other. My husband does not think it's broken because he swims and walks with it. I gave him a bath, put more antibiotic, and put electrolyte in his water. I think I will get oral antibiotic tomorrow as well. He seemed to enjoy the bath, is eating/drinking/pooping okay, and bleeding stopped. He is quieter sadly. I'm guessing shock. I feel horrible he had to watch his buddy like that. I am not sure if I should get him another duck/duckling or try and raise him as a house duck.
I am not sure what got to them. I set them out pretty early and my husband found them around 11am. I didn't think a cat would take them on but that's what I'm leaning toward. My neighbor said she saw a huge raccoon recently but I didn't know if he would be able to get over the fence. I don't know raccoons though. We are currently looking to get a house off a lake so any suggestions for defense from the predators would be great too.
T.I.A
(Sorry if the pictures are hard to see sometimes. I think it's the darker color and I didn't want to scare him too much by handing him and putting out his wing)