Duck bill injury

[T.J.]

Hello - I am new to byc and raising ducks, and I love all the practical information here. We have loved having our Khaki Campbells that we got in March! Sadly, they were attacked by a racoon a week ago (1 killed, 3 injured)- (coon figured out how to lift the roof which we have remedied, a little too late for these poor things). After reading great advice on this site, they are recovering well with the exception of one hen whose bill had the end damaged and partly taken off. Her bill seems to be healing and she is interested in food but can't pick it up and seems to have stopped trying. She will drink water fine. I've tried pureed peas/pea protein in water/cooked duck food (into porridge) with not much success. Does anyone know if she would ever be able to learn to pick food up again without the end of her bill? Haven't had any experience with these kinds of things....I appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I suppose it would depend on how much of her bill is off. Do you have pics? Are you trying to get any food in her?
I know @casportpony has some info on tube feeding.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC. Can you post some pictures on the injury?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it upper or lower bill? If upper maybe a deep bowl so she can scoop and also you might try making her feed soupy since she can drink. They cannot go long with out eating.

 

[T.J.]

 

[T.J.]

Here are a couple of photos of her....I am trying the deeper bowl for food. I HAVE seen her drink the water with pea protein dissolved in it, so I am hoping that she has gotten some nutrition into her. Haven't seen her eat food yet, but maybe she has eaten a bit when I haven't been watching (I have one of the other injured ducks with her, so when the food has been eaten, I'm not sure she ate any or not. I hate to separate them b/c they seem less stressed together, but I may have to to make sure she is eating). Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[casportpony]

Is there any chance you can get her to a vet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

She maybe able to only eat soupy feed. If she is able to drink okay she should be able to eat soup. [drink soupy feed. ] Bless her heart that looks bad but it is amazing how well they can adapt.

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh my goodness. Poor sweet thing.

 

[casportpony]

If she were mine and I couldn't take her to vet I would start weighing her daily and try the soupy feed as @Miss Lydia suggested. If she wouldn't eat, or started losing weight, I would tube feed.

This is a long thread about someone that nursed her hen back to health:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...beak-got-bit-off.848424/page-48#post-19159350