Duck attacked still not eating days after, please help

[PirateGirl]

I have to say her wounds look far better and far healthier than I expected after I read your post. You are doing a good job. Are her wounds draining at all? If so, what color is the discharge? Her lack of interest in food is most worrisome. As others have mentioned, finding anything she will eat is a step in the right direction. Warm oatmeal? Warm scrambled eggs? Cheerios? Meal worms? Lettuce? I'd keep putting the Nutridrench in her water as well as using the heat pad. I understand the bit about bringing them in your house making it more stressful. I had the same problem with an ill chicken recently and opted to bring her in the house at night to sleep in the warmth and let her spend the day with the flock as she was much calmer then. I'm sorry I don't know what else to offer. There is no sure way of knowing if she has any internal injuries from the attack. There may be more going on that the visible wound on her neck. Keep up with the supportive care.

 

[Feathersofdifferentcolors]

well folks thank you all for your help I appreciate it so much. It's been a weird couple of days. Sunday I started using the veterycin. Had to mash her food small enough to fit in a 15ml syringe and squirt small amounts at a time into Hershey's bill while holding her head back. I did 3 syringes a few times a day the first 24 hours of whatever she kept in.

Yesterday evening I got desperate, thought she might try to eat if she saw the others eating at the pm feeding. I put them all in a small fenced run we have for if there is snow or if we are doing yard work it has a large evergreen that shields the area. ( we have 2 kakhi cambells and 2 runners all female in total) one of the kakhi campbells attacked Hershey's neck twice so I removed the camblells and left the runner sister in there. The cambles are a year younger than the runners. Hershey did attempt to eat ! she loves dirt and went straight for a pile of mud...But couldnt handle the hard food. I didn't let her stay out long it was in the 30s. I brought her inside to try and bathe her as she had gotten sand or something on the wound. I let her dry food soak in warm water and sat the bowl out and she jumped all over that bowl happier than a pig in mud. She did actually bathe and preen a little too.

My issue now is she is scratching the wound .. it seems she does it the most after cleaning and applying veterycin and antibiotic ointment.... Could it be build up from the topicals irritating too? she has gotten limber again and I can't for the life of me keep her still enough to clean the would, she will hiss if she sees bottle going behind her head too. I tried just squeezing a cotton ball out with soapy water on the wound and after a few times she was done with that.

I know I can't let her be with the other ducks until she has healed...Does anyone think it would be ok to let her in the run where she can still get back into the coop? Is temperature an issue right now? It's going to be in the low 40s where I am and that seems cold for me but I hate seeing her pacing in the dog crate. Any thoughts on this wound cleaning if I should still use soap and water or just use the spray, or continue even if she hates it lol? I'll have to get a photo today of the area as of today

 

[WVduckchick]

A photo would help us access the situation, but you know your ducks.
Can you put her in your tub to let her swim and clean some of it herself? Afterwards, if you could consider letting it "breathe" for a day or two. As long as it doesn't look infected, they can usually tend to it themselves.
Maybe just keep her with her sister in the sectioned off area as much as possible? If the younger ones keep attacking her, it sounds like you need to look for a long-term solution.
She's 2-3 years old? I would not be concerned at all about 40 degree temps. My ducks are enjoying the snow! lol

 

[Feathersofdifferentcolors]

A photo would help us access the situation, but you know your ducks.
Can you put her in your tub to let her swim and clean some of it herself? Afterwards, if you could consider letting it "breathe" for a day or two. As long as it doesn't look infected, they can usually tend to it themselves.
Maybe just keep her with her sister in the sectioned off area as much as possible? If the younger ones keep attacking her, it sounds like you need to look for a long-term solution.
She's 2-3 years old? I would not be concerned at all about 40 degree temps. My ducks are enjoying the snow! lol

Thank you wvduckchick. I'm thinking its scabbing I think s not smooth anymore no sign of oozing. I let her out when the sun started shining on the run she has been eating mud and duck meddly and quacking her head off

 

[Feathersofdifferentcolors]

And yes she will be 3 this year. I'll be monitoring the. Khakis after she is healed but for now Hershey will be in a kennel alone at night it's only big en ough for her. If I can corner her sister maybe let them visit in the run. She s used the tub but only cared to bathe once which was the night she finally started eating. She just kinda sat. In it last night but hen ate like a pig the rest of the evening

 

[Feathersofdifferentcolors]

I havent used soap nor ointment in 2 days, have sprayed vetericyn once just been in the run with her water and feed ... she's not allowed in the pond until this heals lol. Took this today right after spritzing with veterycin for the first time in 2 days. She is being herself will only eat duck medley treats, crumbles or softened pellets. Looking good I think!

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Feathersofdifferentcolors]

2 weeks ago Hershey flew out of her outdoor pen to get back to the others. Left her to be with the others during the day even though she wasn't fully healed she began eating regular food acting as normal. Used soapy water / saline/ but mostly spritzing veterycin. She is getting feathers back . Thanks again guys!