Duck With Injured Bill - What Can I Do?

[CrazyCritterGal]

I have a house duck (She was a late hatch and her mom abandoned her. By the time she grew up, our harsh winter was upon us, so she became a house duck). I moved her a few days ago from the tote she was living in to a bigger wire cage. She struggled a little bit with the move because she could now see through the sides and wanted to be out always, but she seemed to be slowly getting better. But this morning, I came out and there was blood spattered all over her cage. I think she might have gotten her bill stuck in the wire somehow. Anyway, the little bump on the tip of her bill seems to be peeled up partially and there's a small bit that seems to be sticking out a little bit. I'll post pictures before and after she got it rinsed off, but it's hard to tell in the pics really.

I'm pretty sure it's a relatively small one. I gave her ACV in her water to wash it and I'll put Neosporin on her bill tonight after I take the water away (so she doesn't wash off/drink the Neosporin). She does seem to be in pain - she's been subdued and she's been sleeping constantly (before I've caught her sleeping maybe two times). She tries to nibble at stuff (she's constantly nibbling at everything), and she tries to groom, but she stops quickly - I think because it hurts.
Is there anything I can do for her for pain management or to make it easier for her to eat? Anything to help her heal? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Ouch! That's got to be painful. Lots of bill and beak injuries can be fixed with superglue.

 

[CrazyCritterGal]

Ouch! That's got to be painful. Lots of bill and beak injuries can be fixed with superglue.

I don't think she'd keep her head still enough for that... She's got the whole Muscovy head bob thing going, and she hates it when I mess with her head/bill. Those pictures were difficult enough! But thanks for the tip!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully just time will heal it. Keep her water as clean as possible so she dunks her head she won’t be getting nasty bacteria in it. Might want to put something up on the inside of her crate to keep her from trying to stick her bill through the wire. I have had a few of my Muscovy get Bill injuries and ACV in water does seem to help. If she’s having trouble eating making her feed soupy might help.

 

[CrazyCritterGal]

Hopefully just time will heal it. Keep her water as clean as possible so she dunks her head she won’t be getting nasty bacteria in it. Might want to put something up on the inside of her crate to keep her from trying to stick her bill through the wire. I have had a few of my Muscovy get Bill injuries and ACV in water does seem to help. If she’s having trouble eating making her feed soupy might help.

I'll keep up on the water and I'll keep an eye on her eating. She's steering very clear of the bars right now... hopefully, it stays that way!

 

[azygous]

Can you take her to a vet to have them do it? I'm not just engaging in conventional sympathetic language when I said it had to be very painful. The risk is that the bill will tear all the way, and that will set up a severe trauma response. The most nerve endings and blood vessels happen to be in a duck's bill. Without a functioning bill, this duck can die.

Super glue (gel is easiest to work with) will hold the torn parts together for much faster healing. Without the mend, healing will take much too long and risk infection on top of continual pain. If a vet isn't an option, I suggest finding an assistant to hold the duck immobile while you mend the tear.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@CrazyCritterGal might be a good idea to try an glue it especially if it’s hanging by a thread and might fall off. Wrap her up in a towel like a burrito best way to treat a duck.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I found this specifically for animals on amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004C12Q46/?tag=backy-20

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s awesome. I’ll get this for my med kit!

 

[DuckyDonna]

That’s awesome. I’ll get this for my med kit!

We used glue in surgery sometimes. It was really expensive but it worked and no stitches to remove. Plastic surgery used it the most. I believe the first "super glue" was actually made for surgery.