Duck first aid

[libellula]

So I feel terrible. One of the males was terrorizing a female, but they are in an open yard and I'm pregnant, so catching her was impossible. I got rid of the male, he was just too aggressive to the other ducks and dogs. I finally caught the female today and her head is all messed up. Feathers gone, cracked skin with dried blood, swollen eye... I feel so bad. I now have her in the hatching barn by herself. Should I attempt some kind of first aid? I was thinking that swab stuff for wounds. I don't know. I don't want to stress her out more either.

 

[sourland]

If she were mine, I would apply antibiotic ointment to her head (without the pain killer) and treat her eye with either antibiotic eye ointment/drops or at least eye drops to moisten the eye. She should recover rapidly - good luck.

 

[Amiga]

If you can get her into a lukewarm tub once or twice, that could help clean her up and yes, sourland recommends pretty much what I would be doing.

 

[libellula]

She's healing, thanks. Her head is still really scabbed though. I don't know when to let her back out? The other male just goes for her head when they mate... then she just runs and hides all day/night in a bush. I don't feel like that's normal, but I'm new at this. Didn't think 4 ducks would be so worrisome!