I need help! Please give advice. Kinda stuck here.

[Bettyboop7499]

Wow. Okay, that's alot of people. I was talking to my dad today, (before I read all this) and he said that he'll give me a few weeks to see if Dawn improves. If he does, we'll keep him as he is and continue treatment until he gets to his best point. If he doesn't get good and he still seems like he's in pain, we're going to cull him. My dad said that he didn't even want to cull any but he understands that if it's in the best interest of the duck, he will. He said " I'm not going to get my hands dirty for one duck" not sure if he was serious.or not. He said he's fine with keeping the female BUT he doesn't know how our chickens react. If they react well and actually integrate her into the flock, she can indeed stay. I'm gonna hopefully go out and buy everything necessary. Honestly, I feel like it's irreversible, but I previously lost an animal because I freaked out since she attacked me and now I really hate myself because she had a reason. I was introducing her to other babies so she wouldn't be lonely and she tried biting them so i moved her back and she went in and attacked me. I hate myself for not trying to change her attitude and just actually done something. Take note that all this happened 2 years ago and I still hate myself for it. I know there's a difference between an animal that bit you and an animal that has gout, but the point is I wish I would've tried. I know not everyone agrees with my decision but, idk it's all a bit personal. I love animals and I know, a lot of people think I'm a kid and all but, as a preteen that's been raised with animals all her life, I think it's only right that I try. I'm sorry if any of this makes me sound like some stuck up, bossy 11 year old, but all is this is just really stressful. I take care of 26 animals by myself, and, even though it's all pretty stressful in the end, it's all worth it. Lately, I've just been really stressed about the ducks, but this whole community has definitely helped. Before I joined this community, I honestly thought he would never get better and never expected myself to agree to slaughter, but now I understand that it's what's right in the end, I just want to try first. Thanks for all the advice, though.

I'm so glad that you and your Dad came to an agreement! You are a mature 11 year old! Don't be so hard on yourself though you've done exactly as we've all done...stress out, reach out, freak out, vent out, and WORK IT OUT! Please keep us posted with Dawn and the 25 others.

 

[alexisrambles]

I'm so happy you and your Dad talked it out. That's great! I think that sounds like a great idea--try treatment first. Also I agree with Betty. You're very articulate for your age.

Good luck, and I really hope it works out well for you!

 

[ThatOneFarmGirl786]

In the meantime, are there any foods that I can give him while we wait to go get the pellets?( Other than hard boiled egg yolks, mackerel, pink salmon and raw beef liver?)

 

[Duckworth]

I am really hoping that you can stop hating yourself for the decision you made about your other animal. My eldest son took the blame for the death of a baby animal that died of unknown causes after he was tasked with its sole care as a six-year-old child. Years later, when we adopted him, he was still in terrible emotional pain from that experience.

We do the best we can and make the best choices we know how to make at the time. If you had learned nothing from your experience, then that might be a reason for self-examination. But you have taken that event and allowed it to inform your current choices. Hating yourself over it accomplishes nothing positive and doesn’t honor the animal. I encourage you to drop the rock of guilt, shame and self-hatred and invest all of that energy into continuing to become a person who makes different decisions and who can be compassionate and understanding with others who have faced hard choices and hurt over the outcome.

You don’t come across as stuck up or full of yourself at all. You come across as someone who is responsible and cares deeply about the animals in your care. I can see that your father recognizes the quality young woman you are and is your ally in doing what you can to improve things for Dawn.

This whole conversation we all have been having has never been about who is “right,” but about everyone contributing what they can to giving you the information that helps you make the best decisions you can about your ducks. None of us is standing in your shoes and all of us want to be helpful to you. However things turn out, you have gone at this with the best of intentions, have decided on a course of action, and I have no doubt that you will follow through. We are in your corner, whatever happens.

 

[ThatOneFarmGirl786]

Thanks, I've been waiting a while to hear something like that.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

I am really hoping that you can stop hating yourself for the decision you made about your other animal. My eldest son took the blame for the death of a baby animal that died of unknown causes after he was tasked with its sole care as a six-year-old child. Years later, when we adopted him, he was still in terrible emotional pain from that experience.

We do the best we can and make the best choices we know how to make at the time. If you had learned nothing from your experience, then that might be a reason for self-examination. But you have taken that event and allowed it to inform your current choices. Hating yourself over it accomplishes nothing positive and doesn’t honor the animal. I encourage you to drop the rock of guilt, shame and self-hatred and invest all of that energy into continuing to become a person who makes different decisions and who can be compassionate and understanding with others who have faced hard choices and hurt over the outcome.

You don’t come across as stuck up or full of yourself at all. You come across as someone who is responsible and cares deeply about the animals in your care. I can see that your father recognizes the quality young woman you are and is your ally in doing what you can to improve things for Dawn.

This whole conversation we all have been having has never been about who is “right,” but about everyone contributing what they can to giving you the information that helps you make the best decisions you can about your ducks. None of us is standing in your shoes and all of us want to be helpful to you. However things turn out, you have gone at this with the best of intentions, have decided on a course of action, and I have no doubt that you will follow through. We are in your corner, whatever happens.

Yes, what Duckworth said!

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Duckworth, that post was wonderful!

 

[rjohns39]

In the meantime, are there any foods that I can give him while we wait to go get the pellets?( Other than hard boiled egg yolks, mackerel, pink salmon and raw beef liver?)

Do a google search for foods high in vitamin E and B12 also look for selenium. Then check your cabinets to see what you have on hand. Avoid Tuna packed in water as it has way too much salt.

 

[quackiemama]

Awww sweetie you don't know what you don't know! Life is about learning and you my dear are quite impressive! You have already learned and lived through things that so many adults never will. Keep on keeping on! Big hugs.

 

[ThatOneFarmGirl786]

Thanks to everybody for sharing their own opinions, it means alot to know that some people actually care about what I say. I'm the only one that actually likes animals in my family. My extended family flat-out hates them. (Most of them) and I just don't know what to do in situations like this. You guys definitely helped me through it all. Let me reassure you that Google knows nothing about ducks.At. All. On the other hand, though, Google did lead me to this great community.