Dumped ducks in Central Kentucky

[Galaxyfalcon]

Did you need to get any kind of permission to rescue her? People keep dumping domestic ducks at a big park nearby and it makes me feel really sad. I've thought about helping them but I would feel too nervous without checking with the park first. Poor girl...at least she has you looking after her. A lot of these ducks don't get any help.

 

[Peas4Ducks]

Did you need to get any kind of permission to rescue her? People keep dumping domestic ducks at a big park nearby and it makes me feel really sad. I've thought about helping them but I would feel too nervous without checking with the park first. Poor girl...at least she has you looking after her. A lot of these ducks don't get any help.

I called the Humane Society, who directed me to Animal Care and Control. The dispatcher I talked to was pretty dismissive, so my partner and I decided to go ahead and catch them. From what I could gather from the internet, it’s illegal to dump domestic ducks on public land, but catching and rehoming them is either legal or a kind of grey area.

But I will say—it was quite difficult to catch them, and now I’m a little overwhelmed by how much work (and money!) this duck is going to need over the next few months. Do you know of any animal rescue groups in your area that you could reach out to about your park’s ducks?

 

[Marie2020]

My partner and I just discovered three abandoned ducks in one of our city parks—two Pekins and what appears to be a Blue Swedish duck. One of the Pekins has a very bad limp and a swollen leg. All three sound like females.

Unfortunately, our backyard is at capacity. I already posted in the Kentucky thread, but I will try here too—if anyone lives within two hours of Lexington and is able to take them in, I’d be happy to drop them off. I would also be more than willing to take the injured duck for an initial vet visit first.

I saw @SolarDuck’s recent post, so I plan to contact the Humane Society tomorrow morning, as well. I am concerned for the injured duck, though.

View attachment 2919476

I’m hopeful for the Humane Society option! All three of these seem like very sweet and, other than the injured leg, healthy ducks.

Hello. You're so kind rescuing these ducks.

Please don't give up, you can learn from this experience and you are saving their lives .

I only have chickens but have treated bumble foot by soaking their legs in Epsom salts and apple cider vinegar. I then would massage oil in .

On seeing your thread I had too share this plus I found another suggestion that I didn't know about, it's a spray called microncyn. Apparently it helps.

Here's the link too the information. Skip down a little it's a bit long winded if you're in a hurry.

https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2012/03/bumblefoot.html?m=1

This duck looks adorable.

Good luck

 

[Marie2020]

The vet confirmed that it's bumblefoot and prescribed an oral antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. Tomorrow we're going to take the two healthy ducks to the farm, which has a big pond and other ducks, so hopefully they'll adjust quickly. I'll keep the one with bumblefoot and treat her here. I hate to split them up, but we can't keep all three any longer. I think we can keep her in a small pen out in the backyard, so she'll have our ducks for company.

I'm a little nervous about treating bumblefoot this severe. The vet wasn't super hopeful about her prognosis. Fingers crossed!

In my experience they never are, good vets are rare where I live

 

[Marie2020]

@Peas4Ducks

Here's the link for emergency and diseases
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I really appreciate your offer! I’m not sure at this point if wrapping her foot will help, but I’ll ask the vet at her next check up. At some point, I’m sure I’ll have questions about the specific antibiotics that you ended up using, but it’s still early days.

The vet didn’t x-ray her foot, he diagnosed it as bumblefoot very quickly. I think because her foot was so hot and he could feel multiple pockets of pus. We’re not seeing any improvement yet, but I don’t really expect to—I found another thread where someone has been treating bumblefoot with antibiotics continuously since June (!!), and that ducks’ feet looked very similar to hers. But that duck is healing, so I’m hopeful she might as well.

I feel so bad for her. She’s very scared of me, and I have to handle her often to medicate her, take her outside, put her in the bath, put her up for the night. I feel like she’s constantly terrified. She’s also molting, so I’m sure being touched so much is uncomfortable. I keep telling myself (and her) that it’s ultimately all to help her.

Here she is! If you zoom in on her left ankle and toe, you can see how swollen they are.

View attachment 2926306

Thanks for checking on her. I think she’s in for a long haul.

She's beautiful! She looks young My duck, Honey Boo Boo, doesn't necessarily love me, but it is what it is I see her swelling. Poor girl. That looks so similar to Honey Boo Boo's. I have a strong feeling that this girl is in capable and loving hands
Any chance you've found the perfect name yet? What do your ducks think about her? Ducks can be a job to integrate, but I'm sure that's not always the case You and this duck have been on my mind today

 

[Miss Lydia]

She's smiling. All Pekins look like they are smiling. Your right she may not enjoy being handled but it's what has to be done. Maybe wrapping her in a towel would help lessen the uncomfortable feeling they have when molting.
Did the vet say he would open the area and drain or remove the pus?
Bless you, for taking this on. Your a hero.

 

[Marie2020]

She's beautiful! She looks young My duck, Honey Boo Boo, doesn't necessarily love me, but it is what it is I see her swelling. Poor girl. That looks so similar to Honey Boo Boo's. I have a strong feeling that this girl is in capable and loving hands
Any chance you've found the perfect name yet? What do your ducks think about her? Ducks can be a job to integrate, but I'm sure that's not always the case You and this duck have been on my mind today

I can second this, I've come in just to see an update

 

[Marie2020]

@Peas4Ducks

What have you decided to do? In the link they explain how to elevate the problem I hope it has helped

 

[Peas4Ducks]

@Marie2020 Thank you for checking in! I think for now, we will finish this round of antibiotics and then see what the vet says at her next check up. I really appreciate the information you’ve shared, I think we will probably end up trying many different things over the next months.

Did the vet say he would open the area and drain or remove the pus?
Bless you, for taking this on. Your a hero.

Pekins do look like they’re smiling! I love it .

The vet said he would prefer not to drain the pus for now, he said in his experience that sometimes makes things worse. And thank you I will hold onto those words in the more difficult moments.

Any chance you've found the perfect name yet? What do your ducks think about her? Ducks can be a job to integrate, but I'm sure that's not always the case You and this duck have been on my mind today

lol no name yet! We’ve been calling her Duck. Our ducks have really taken to her, especially our little Welsh Harlequin. I think we’ll still keep her in the pen for now, just to limit her mobility. But soon we might start letting her out for brief visits.