My dog snuck out of the house this morning and tried to play with my chickens and ducks that had escaped from their coop. I got the ones outside the coop back in that I saw out, and found my male Mallard duck laying limp in the grass. I thought he was dead until I saw him breathing. I picked him up with a shirt off the clothesline and got him into a cardboard box in the shade to see what I was dealing with. At first I thought he had a broken neck, but he stated lifting ihis head enough to sniff the corner. He doesn't look substantially injured from looking at him. So I decided to give laying hands on him a try. When he had perked up I moved the box in to the sun to dry his feathers. He was up and trying to look out of the box. When he seemed better I took him back to the coop and set him down. He started to get up and walk but a rooster ran towards him and he quickly played dead. I picked him up and he kept his head tucked under against my arm until I got him back in the box and again layed his head down. So I got out a a wire dog crate and put the towel in it and put him in on the towel. He lifted his head up slightly and layed it against the bars positioned so he could look out. I brough him in my bedroom with me so I can monitor him. After about 10 minutes he lifted his head in to normal position and has remained that way so far. I saw him move his wing and head when my 2 yr old startled him. He seems to be breathing well and his wings and tail moves with his breathing... I am aftraid to give him a bowl of water after how he was if he might slump in to it. I was thinking maybe putting a water bottle on it. Does anybody have any helpful advice or information about this. I'm wondering if he acted like that because he was scared rather than injured. Do they play dead as a defense? Anybody have experience with how they act after a dog running around trying to play with them and their coop mates like they were stuffed???
He could have internal injuries, and only time will tell. I think he is an shock, which can be very stress full. He should drink, because that helps with the shock. You can give him a small bowl of water and remove it after a couple of minutes and offer it again an hour later. Just don't give him food without water around. I would also add electrolytes to the water, since it does help with the stress. Here is a recipe from another BYC member (sorry forgot to write down the name), so I'm not taking credit for this one nor have I tried this recipe. 1 cup hot water 2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp baking soda Mix together to dissolve. Let cool. Add 1 tsp of mixture to a gallon of water. You may want to mix on a food mash and add a little bit of yogurt to it. This will help regaining strength. Hope he pulls through.
He just got up, turned around in the cage and laid back down to face the other direction. His head is still up and he's doing pretty well...
If you and he are really lucky, he may be doing nothing more than playing "possum." Many predators, dogs especially, are inspired to chase fleeing prey. Lying still and pretending you are dead is often an effective way of eluding predators. Chicks will do this when attacked by a hawk. They will scatter and then freeze. The fact that he got up and walked when you put him in the pen makes me think that this is a possibility.
I have the feeling he is so scared that he is doing that, i just wanted reaffermation from other duck owners...
Giving a quiet safe place, water, vitamins, electrolytes, love, those will help no matter what. Time will tell. Keep doing every positive thing you can think of (singing, praying, etc.) since that will help you both. And just watch for injuries, seizures, and so forth. Though not always (sadly), ducks can survive very scary episodes.
he was doing great this afternoon, but passed away when I had to go to my dr. appointment. There was no cuts or anything visable. Not sure what it was. He was still just as beautiful in death when I found him dead as when he was full of life. He had passed gracefully in more peaceful condition than what I had found him in this morning. My poor beautiful Mallard, I will miss him...
