Dog attack :( Does and don'ts and life expectation?

[Skye'sDucks]

The hen is doing well today, but I wanted to ask how long do I need to keep up these washings with the epsome salt water? I saw no maggots in any wounds today. I've given her one washing and I'll probably do another unless it isn't needed.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d check real good each day until she’s healed just keep using the Vetericyn and fly spray and mainly watch for those maggots She’s such a pretty duck think you might keep her?

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Alright, thanks for the reply. These last 2 days I've checked her wounds really well in the morning, then checked them again while washing them out, and to be clear do I just watch them at this point?

Honestly, it feels like she's already mine. There are a few wild ducks I've grown attached to and don't mind them sharing feed with my ducks, they have always gotten along very well. She's one of them. There's actually another duck that looks very very similar to her, almost like they're twins. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish who is who until I see them side by side. This one has been around for a long time, as has her 'twin', so I've always adored them. They've gotten pretty friendly but not too close. I usually don't bother trying to pen the wild ones though. I don't think they're quite that tame.

Sometimes I've thought of taking my very favorite wild one or two with me if we were to ever move, but I don't know...lol. Probably wouldn't disturb them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sorry I haven't been on in a couple days. My brother died on Friday.
IMO, the best thing you can possibly do is to get the bird into a fly free space indoors somewhere.
I guess you are in Florida so I imagine you don't have a basement.
Perhaps the dog owner would allow you to use their garage.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/flystrike

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry about your brother @ChickenCanoe

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Sorry I haven't been on in a couple days. My brother died on Friday.
IMO, the best thing you can possibly do is to get the bird into a fly free space indoors somewhere.
I guess you are in Florida so I imagine you don't have a basement.
Perhaps the dog owner would allow you to use their garage.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/flystrike

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother.

We don't have a basement and I really badly wanted to keep her in our garage but we figured out a good way to keep her cage free of flies. We have mesh bug netting we totally covered her pen in and we were able to move it to another spot in the yard. I am also putting fly spray around all her wounds. I haven't seen 1 fly in her cage so far with this method.

We also have put out a fly trap and it has worked surprisingly well. The first few days we caught nothing but now it is filled with flies! I made sure to secure her netting very well tonight and coated her well in fly spray. Our system is working so at this point I don't want to disturb her. Thank you for the link too!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is she doing?

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Sorry for not updating today! The hen is doing really well and her wounds are looking great. We have kept the flies away so I don't believe they are a real problem anymore so long as I keep up what I am doing to keep them away.

She's eating at least a little, since her water is clouded with food but I don't see much gone from her bowl. I can say I am very glad she's a girl and not a drake because she isn't so lethargic anymore! I'm happy to see her so active and acting more normal, even if it means its a little more difficult for me lol. She fights me a bit more but still stands still, she's an amazing bird.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you give your ducks treats? She might perk up an start eating more if you mixed something into her feed.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Do you give your ducks treats? She might perk up an start eating more if you mixed something into her feed.

Sorry for not getting back to you. Yes, they do get treats although we ran out and have bought more online so we are just waiting for them to come. Hopefully they'll get her more interested in eating.

There was actually about half the food eaten today, although a little spilled. I also noticed that some of her poops, which usually are pretty watery, looked much more solid and normal which is good. And she definitely is feeling better... she escaped from me twice yesterday since I am so used to her not fighting me, so I just need to be more cautious from now on. I wrapped her in a towel and that worked great.

It's been a little tough treating her today because it has been so stormy, but she's doing well despite that!