Eyeless Pekin Duckling! How to care for it

[Quacker381]

I have a duckling that was born without eyes. To put it shortly I have no idea how to care for him/her, but I am calling the duck a her. Any tips on water/food bowls so she doesn’t fall in? Also, any tips on how to get her to get a better balance? Any other advice would be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

Have you considered the future of this duckling. It will be 100% dependent on you for getting food, water, sanitation, protection, etc. should you be able to teach the duckling the necessities. Then the duck will be dependent on you for as long as it lives; and that could be a long time.

I had a young cockerel that was temporarily blind. It was able to learn where food and water could be found. To begin with I had to force feed as it took a few days for the cockerel to learn to eat on its own. Water was easy. I kept food and water containers in the same place in the pen. For both food and water it was a matter of dipping the beak in the food and water making sure that the substance got in the beak

The cockerel was blind due to a bad infection-both eye sockets became so swollen that vision was impossible. It took 6-8 weeks to clear up the infection, but the cockerel did regain vision. Your duckling will always be blind.

 

[Quacker381]

She’s not really dependent on me. The only thing I really need to teach her is balance which she could get eventually get. She is happy and healthy, but she has only been alive for 4 days so with practice I know she can live a normal life, well normal for her because she doesn’t know any other life. She’s eating and drinking a lot and she gets exercise, so I know with practice she will do well with however many days she has on this earth!

 

[Quacker381]

Erin is 8 weeks and her friend, Celeste, is 3 weeks!!!