Frost bite on ducks feet

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Grassman 52

Grassman 52

Chirping
7 Years
Aug 2, 2012
315
7
91
Ludlow Mass
In the Northeast it was 0 degrees last night - working with the ducks today I noticed one of my girls limping. Picked her up and her feet were frozen - I looked at all the other ducks - geese and chickens, everyone else is fine.

Question: is frost bite fatal? will she lose one or both feet? should I just cull her so she does not suffer?

Never had this problem, first full year with ducks.

Also only giving them water in tall heated buckets so they can't get in.
 
depends on how bad the frost bite is. It is usually not fatal just causes appendages to fall off... is it bother her whole feet? Or are a few toes effected? Any photos would be a big help in figuring out what action to take.
 
I hope you have her in a chilly tub, deep enough to float in, watching closely to assess the situation. She might be okay, it's going to depend on how frozen and how you treat the injury.

It's best for tissue to slowly slowly heat back up. Protection from infection - which is not easy with ducks - is important the next few days, and it may be okay to put some topical antibiotic on the feet. I would alternate that with comfrey salve, if things go that way.

Keeping her separated, quiet, in as clean a sick bay as you can make will help.
 
Thank you for the suggestions - sorry to say that she had to be culled, both feet were frozen. I don't understand how this could happen unless she was sick, not eating well etc....

All my other Muscovys are fine along with my geese and chickens.

Last night I put down more hay in the duck coop and made sure all were inside and locked up - I am going to keep them all inside for a day or two.


I see more posts today on frost bite and others in the Northeast starting to worry.
 
Grassman 52 said:
Thank you for the suggestions - sorry to say that she had to be culled, both feet were frozen. I don't understand how this could happen unless she was sick, not eating well etc....

All my other Muscovys are fine along with my geese and chickens.

Last night I put down more hay in the duck coop and made sure all were inside and locked up - I am going to keep them all inside for a day or two.


I see more posts today on frost bite and others in the Northeast starting to worry.
Click to expand...
So sorry for you loss.
 
Oh wow, i'm sorry. My birds have been locked in most of the week, with the exception of yesterday i left the door open but that didn't fair super well( i had one wee one decide the cedars outside the pen were a choice) so i closed them in today, which they were more than happy to contend with.
 

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