The only time beaks and nails can grow back is if the beak or nail bed is still there, alive, and healthy. The bone appears to be missing, along with the beak and associated tissues for growth.
If it can eat... it can live. I'd just watch it's weight carefully.
If you don't have gates - get some!!!
That 'friend' just exposed your whole flock to... who KNOWS what!!!
If you're still speaking to them explain new additions must be quarantined.
I can't say anything about the poor duckling except it's HUGE, are you sure it's not a gosling?
The yard is fenced and we have gates, I guess now we need locks and a we'll have to have a chat with the relative!! I didn't talk to him myself, my hubby said that he said something like "the duck might not survive through the night" and my hubby didn't ask him to elaborate on what that meant and he didn't mention that to me until I called him this morning..?? I don't understand how someone could dump a little duckling in someones yard expecting it to die and not even care.
I don't think it's a gosling, it looks like a white pekin to me.
*****ANOTHER QUESTION*****
The tongue looks really dry and obviously it can't close it's beak to keep the tongue moist. Is it going to be okay if the tongue is dried out, will that cause other problems?? I feel so bad for this little guy.
The people on these boards are some of the most caring and compassionate people anywhere. It warms my heart, seriously, how much love and devotion can shown to what many feel is just a "bird" amazes me. Many of us have acted out of ignorance at one time or another and these simple acts of kindness open our hearts and our minds. I hope the little quacker grows old on your farm. Regardless, of the outcome to feel loved and cared surely for counts for something. Personally, I will probably die with a few regrets...
but showing kindness to an animal wont be one of them. Thanks for giving the little a chance.
As hard as it may be to think on the bright side... I think this little duck was sent to you because it needed you.
Regardless of the relative, this little one will have good care and it sounds like a good life. I think it is absolutely heart warming and wish the best for you and your new addition! Please keep us updated on it and post pics as it grows. Looks to me like it is healthy and manages to eat. I am not an expert, but it almost looks like some kind of injury and not a birth defect?? Hopefully it has been that way for a while and the duck has adapted, rather than a fresh injury.
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I've been looking at it closely and can tell that it has been like this for awhile so I am assuming it is a birth defect. There are no signs of it being a new injury. I do think this duck ended up here for a reason.
It had not eaten anything or tried to drink since I put it in the new pen so I just went out and held it by the water and it started drinking instantly! He just needed some encouragement.