This is a great thread!!! Thanks quackers619! Dandelion is adorable!
I wouldn't necessarily call my ducks special needs.....because they don't need any extra help from me but.....
I have a duck, Mr. Fiona, who had a serious eye infection and lost the sight in one eye. After being nursed back to health from various other issues and being separated from the flock for near 3 months he is now the Alpha over 2 drakes and 13 gals. He is also the protector. If the gals split up into 2 groups he makes sure each of the other drakes splits up with them and then he runs back and forth between both groups to check on every one constantly until both groups come back together. I love him to death. Great great duck.
I also have a female duck, Annibelle aka Hoover (because she eats everything) that only has 2 toes on one foot. The vet amputated her toe due to an infection that he feared would spread if we didn't. He said she might be a little slower than the other ducks and might kind of swim in circles but that she could live a pretty normal life. She hasn't skipped a beat and you would never know she was any different than before. Always first to the food and treats and swims just like the rest.
My third "special needs" girl we aren't really sure what is wrong with her yet but suspect a congenital defect or possibly she had a niacin deficiency when she was younger before we found her. She can't bend her knee joints and walks very stiff legged. She may have had a spinal injury at some point. We don't know. And although she is a little slower then every one else and walks and runs a little differently, she still catches up and is a happy girl just following everyone around. Mr Fiona always knows where she is and never lets her get too far behind.
I hope someone will read the stories on this thread and decide to give their "imperfect" duck or duckling a chance.
I wouldn't necessarily call my ducks special needs.....because they don't need any extra help from me but.....
I have a duck, Mr. Fiona, who had a serious eye infection and lost the sight in one eye. After being nursed back to health from various other issues and being separated from the flock for near 3 months he is now the Alpha over 2 drakes and 13 gals. He is also the protector. If the gals split up into 2 groups he makes sure each of the other drakes splits up with them and then he runs back and forth between both groups to check on every one constantly until both groups come back together. I love him to death. Great great duck.
I also have a female duck, Annibelle aka Hoover (because she eats everything) that only has 2 toes on one foot. The vet amputated her toe due to an infection that he feared would spread if we didn't. He said she might be a little slower than the other ducks and might kind of swim in circles but that she could live a pretty normal life. She hasn't skipped a beat and you would never know she was any different than before. Always first to the food and treats and swims just like the rest.
My third "special needs" girl we aren't really sure what is wrong with her yet but suspect a congenital defect or possibly she had a niacin deficiency when she was younger before we found her. She can't bend her knee joints and walks very stiff legged. She may have had a spinal injury at some point. We don't know. And although she is a little slower then every one else and walks and runs a little differently, she still catches up and is a happy girl just following everyone around. Mr Fiona always knows where she is and never lets her get too far behind.
I hope someone will read the stories on this thread and decide to give their "imperfect" duck or duckling a chance.
Hello everyone! Have just finished reading through this thread as we had our second clutch of muscovy eggs hatch last Tuesday under our gorgeous 'Pip'. One appears to be blind as it keeps bumping into things and getting left behind and it's eyes are smaller and not as round as the others. Mother Pip is making sure it gets well look after though and helping it keep up. She's such a gorgeous Mum.
