Duck with broken leg

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I've been reading everyone's advice here (I'm new) as I am feeling sad about my Khaki Campbell hen's fractured tibia and compound fractured wing. Yes, she escaped to the road.

She's been treated by a vet, yet after three full days, she has gone off her feed and water. I tempted her with some earthworms, which she ate, but gave up in short order.

She's on an antibiotic and pain meds, and is in isolation. with free choice water and her regular food. And she's gotten completely crabby; biting me for the first time ever! I suppose if I were her, I'd want to bite someone's head off too.

Any tips? I'm so glad I found you all here!
 
I'm no vet, but I wonder if the drugs are having a bad effect on her?

What are you doing for her isolation? I mean, what accommodations?


Is she your only duck or are there others.....I think it's important for them not to lose their connection to other ducks. My injured duck is in a big Dogloo but the opening is covered with chicken wire, so he is able to communicate with his brothers all the time. Also, I've been allowing him
to swim alot with his brothers......my vet says swimming is good for him....he gets exercise, gets to play with his brothers, gets to drink anytime, and doesn't put any weight on his injured leg. You might try letting yours swim awhile, seems to cheer them up.

Good luck to you, I feel your pain, it's hard to watch one of your pets be injured.
 
I hadn't thought about the drugs. Unfortunately, they are necessary for a few more days.

She has twenty sisters, and I brought one in to visit, and she pecked at the bandages and the injured duck tried to get up. I took her outside in her box and watched her, and again, she tried to get up. Vet said, no more entertainment. So I sit with her and talk for awhile, otherwise she is in a room in the house by herself, in a cat crate, with the top off.

She can't swim because of the splint, but it would be nice. We can't take the splint off because the bone is broken in so many places.

In any case, the earthworms seem to have done her good because she drank quite a bit of water since then. And worms are entertaining, especially when you have to catch them in the water like she did. My birds are used to being outside during the daylight hours, so this must be tough on her.

Does anyone think a radio or music soothes an isolated duck? A little NPR perhaps?
 
Wow- I've been following this thread and just had to share a story. First let me join with the others who have complimented you on your love and dedication to your ducks.

Years ago, my sister-in-law raised chickens, she saw a mixture of baby ducks at the feed store and added them to the mix. I was the designated barnyard helper, trimming wings, feeding & watering when she couldn't, etc. The ducks were Pekins & Mallards. When they were full grown, somehow one of the Mallards injured his foot and it healed incorrectly which left him with a limp. We kept him separated with his own pool but one day the Pekins got in his pen and really worked him over. We immediately took him out, built another pen on the other side of the barn away from everyone and took to mothering him to death, which promptly made him into a Mama's boy. Our massive garden was on one end of the barn and he pretty much lived in that garden each summer, which earned him the name of GD (Garden Duck). We had very little trouble with tomato worms and potato bugs when GD was on duty and we figured he earned the right to eat some of the greenery too. We faithfully walked him down to the big pool each night so he could take his swim and of course he strutted past the Pekins like any spoiled child would do. He also had his own pool but it was too small to do anything other than get wet.

My sister called me late one night and said that something was in GD's pen, she was deathly afraid of birds and wouldn't go in to help him, I went flying out to the barnyard and walked into his pen, scooped him up and then realized I had a big old possum to get out of the pen. I love all animals, but I HATE possums. I had a full sized Mallard tucked under one arm and a shovel in my other hand and possum on the other end of the shovel. It was a long tense battle but I ended up getting the Possum out of the pen and then fixed the place where he had gotten through. The whole time under my arm, GD was giving me hell for not letting him see the action.

GD lived for many, many years, he kept us entertained, I think he loved us in return, the way he would cock his head and look at us whenever we called his name was worth all the special care he required. He's been gone for years, as are the chickens & ducks but we still remember him fondly whenever we start a new garden.

I wish you all the success in the world with Pudge, thanks for letting me walk down memory lane this morning remembering the best duck in the world, or at least in the state of Indiana, GD.
 
shantibirdy,
Sounds like you're doing the best with the hand you've been dealt then.....not sure about the music though.....I've heard puppies like a ticking sound when newborns, but I believe that is because it reminds them of their mothers heartbeat....not sure that would apply here. Will be curious to know what yours does after finishing the meds....let us know.

miltonsmom,
Thanks for the story about GD, sounds like quite a guy.....I'm a major animal lover too, but I do not have any patience for any critter that tries to harm MY critters, so I would have ran that possum out too.

Right now I feel so bad about leaving Pudge in his Dogloo.....I know it's the best thing for him though.......I put him in the pond this afternoon and let him swim with his buddies for awhile......right after he gets in the pond, 2 of his brothers have started picking on him, so I usually stay out there to keep things in order.....they bite the back of his head and force him under the water........I sometimes pull them off. After awhile (about 10 minutes) they stop pestering him. These two are Spanky (alpha male) and Rufus who are biological brothers.....Rufus is not that bad but Spanky is.......Cecil is Pudge's biological brother, he and Pudge are 2 weeks younger than Spanky/Rufus. Poor Cecil gets picked on by all of them.....

I checked on them after Pudge had been in the water for about 45 minutes....he had gotten out of the water and walked down the ramp with the rest of them......I actually had a hard time catching him, he now waddles almost as fast as the rest of them. Cleaned his Dogloo out and put in fresh water for him.
 
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Haven't read the whole thread. Dogs got me up at 0530 and I can hardly see. But if you are having trouble getting a convalescing duck to eat, I always have good luck with making a soup with their regular food and warm water. The food absorbs a ton of water so you have to check soon after making it if it is still runny. Toss in some shredded leaf lettuce ( not iceburg) or romaine and she might eat. Are you able to purchase crickets and mealworms from a pet store? Always a big hit. Good luck with your duck.
 
Very pretty boys!!!! He is sure doing alright in the water. So glad to see him on the mend
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Congrats on Pudge's recuperation! He looks fantastic!

Carmel gets her wing and legs splints off on Tuesday (will have been two weeks since the accident) and we can start water therapy too. She's never gone so long without a swim!

Thanks for sharing your videos, they sure are handsome boys. I love their voices.
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