emilybush81
In the Brooder
- Jul 17, 2019
- 2
- 11
- 12
Hi all. I know this isn't a chicken post, but I'm hoping you can help. A raccoon(s) got into our coop three nights ago and killed three of our ducks and injured the fourth. I'll try to include all of the info below, as well as include photos. She's currently in a dark kennel in the house with straw, water, and food.
There are several puncture wounds on her neck, head, and chest; a large wounded area on her lower back end; and her beak is very tore up. Her legs and wings do no appear to be injured.
I treated her with Veteracyn the first day, along with a fresh water wash and short Epsom salt bath and put apple cider vinegar in her water. Fed her scrambled eggs and pellets soaked in water. She ate nothing and drank very little. Made no noise.
On day two, I covered the wounds with neosporin and gave her elecrolytes and vitamins in her water. I took away the old food and gave her regular pellets and some beetles I found outside (her favorite treat). She was drinking more and ate a bug or two, but nothing more. Poop very watery and chalky looking. Only quacked when I tried picking her up.
This morning (day 3) she is drinking, but still not eating. Quacking a little more at me when I check on her.
My main questions are: should I be concerned that she hasn't eaten anything? Obviously her beak is seriously injured and clearly hurts. What should I be feeding her that she can tolerate? Even when she was perfectly healthy she didn't care for food other than her pellets and bugs. I can't see if there is any injury inside her mouth. Am I treating her correctly? How often should I clean her wounds? She's a large duck (silver appleyard/peking mix - approx. 10-12 lbs) and she does NOT like to be handled. I feel I'm risking more injury to her trying to drag her out of the kennel and hold her to treat her wounds.
And assuming she makes it through this - in your opinion, what's the best way to get her back to a normal life? Introduce new adult ducks to her slowly or baby ducklings? She lost her whole family and she's clearly missing them. Poor baby.
There are several puncture wounds on her neck, head, and chest; a large wounded area on her lower back end; and her beak is very tore up. Her legs and wings do no appear to be injured.
I treated her with Veteracyn the first day, along with a fresh water wash and short Epsom salt bath and put apple cider vinegar in her water. Fed her scrambled eggs and pellets soaked in water. She ate nothing and drank very little. Made no noise.
On day two, I covered the wounds with neosporin and gave her elecrolytes and vitamins in her water. I took away the old food and gave her regular pellets and some beetles I found outside (her favorite treat). She was drinking more and ate a bug or two, but nothing more. Poop very watery and chalky looking. Only quacked when I tried picking her up.
This morning (day 3) she is drinking, but still not eating. Quacking a little more at me when I check on her.
My main questions are: should I be concerned that she hasn't eaten anything? Obviously her beak is seriously injured and clearly hurts. What should I be feeding her that she can tolerate? Even when she was perfectly healthy she didn't care for food other than her pellets and bugs. I can't see if there is any injury inside her mouth. Am I treating her correctly? How often should I clean her wounds? She's a large duck (silver appleyard/peking mix - approx. 10-12 lbs) and she does NOT like to be handled. I feel I'm risking more injury to her trying to drag her out of the kennel and hold her to treat her wounds.
And assuming she makes it through this - in your opinion, what's the best way to get her back to a normal life? Introduce new adult ducks to her slowly or baby ducklings? She lost her whole family and she's clearly missing them. Poor baby.
