Duck rescue

[Amiga]

Cerelia,

Uncooked peas - fresh or thawed from frozen. I keep a bag of frozen peas and thaw out some in to give to the ducklings a few times a week. I give them much more in the way of greens, which have very high nutrient value per volume. Peas are good, but too many can unbalance their diets, I think.

I second Wifezilla's recommendation. Corn is okay in limited amounts for some extra calories, but your girl needs some serious nutrition - a balanced diet, and if corn promotes inflammation, then get it out of her diet (though I am not sure you are still feeding her corn, based on what you wrote).

So, what is she getting these days for food? Did the vet have any recommendations?

 

[Cerelia]

That's what the vet thought, too, Goosedragon. I don't know how...we can see the pond from our house, and I have seen the duck(s) there every single day.

OK...forgive my ignorance, but here is what I see. I guess I need to learn feather terms. It looks like the stick part (almost skeletal) of the feathers, with tiny little plumes starting to grow. It looks like the entire last section of feathers. We did see this last year, too, and we thought they were molted in a very odd way. Oh yes, I have a lot to learn.

 

[Cerelia]

She has regular feed now, HL. No corn for her. I put squirrel food out, and they were coming up and fishing out the corn...I guess I should have quit putting squirrel food out. When I stopped the ones who had the brown duck, they were giving them bread, and I told the folks it was bad for them. Guess I should have gone a step further myself. Anyway, she won't be able to get to it now.

Do you think the calcium supplement will help her hip or knee?

 

[Wifezilla]

She should have some oyster shell anyway

 

[Cerelia]

Amiga, I am going to have to track down Purina Duck chow, I think. I finally located a feed store at the last minute yesterday and they recommended Taylor Layered feed until I can find duck chow. Do I need to go out today and find the duck chow?

Edited to add: I believe the feed store person said it had 16% protein.

 

[Amiga]

The calcium supplement should help her system especially with the egg laying, and I know that in women's bodies, if we don't have enough calcium while pregnant, our bodies take calcium from our bones, weakening them.

So based on my very incomplete knowledge, I think calcium will strengthen her bones, and also very importantly, help prevent her from getting egg bound (the last thing she needs on top of her other troubles).

Related to that, you may want to avoid spinach or any other food that has oxalic acid in it. It hinders the body's ability to absorb calcium.

 

[Cerelia]

You people know your birds! Wow!

WZ, the calcium says it is Osteo-Form regular. It is a powder. The Vet said I could put it on some tiny strips of whole wheat bread and give it to her...but is that the best way? She prefers her food thrown in her water, but she will eat it dry and then drink...should I try to powder her food with it?

 

[Cerelia]

You folks are so helpful; thank you so much. You don't know how much I appreciate this. I feel rather helpless at the moment with her. Dogs I know, ducks I don't.

Amiga, how can you tell if they are eggbound? The vet said the egg looked like it had a good layer of calcium on it, and was in the right position. Those eggs are so big, it just has to hurt! It looked full-size in the x-ray, how long do you think it will take to drop, and when should I start to worry (biting my fingernails). I think Daffodil just rolled her eyes at me.

The vet said to take the egg away from her. She said she had enough worries without it. No drakes around here so I supposed it isn't fertile.

 

[Amiga]

Cerelia,

I wonder if you might soak (not cook) some rolled oats and put the calcium supplement in that. I am thinking you may already have oatmeal in the house. It seems it would be better than bread, even whole wheat bread.

Or, soak her regular food and add the supplement.

 

[Cerelia]

Oh ma gosh, we have an egg! I just looked in. She doesn't want me around her egg, either!