improvising crate for lame duck

[alaskaducks]

i have a duck (who is terrified of me, they all are) with a bad leg that i need to get into a contained area. i have 24 ducks that are about 12 weeks old, they are LARGE and they can fly short distances and hop quite high from a standing position. i have no way to obtain a playpen or large dog kennel/crate. i am unable to get to any store at all (i live in a remote area in alaska, no roads)

i have an 8' x 16' coop and a large outside pen with a ramp to their coop.

any suggestions on how to get her safely into the recovery area? i was thinking i would try to herd her into the coop, but i don't think i could get her in without the rest of the flock. if i try to single her out, she's probably gonna go nuts and i'm afraid she'll hurt herself worse. i'm just totally drawing a blank. i was hoping she would be better today and i just feel so bad for her.

 

[Amiga]

Oh, I did not see this till now. What is the situation?

If you have one of those squarish laundry baskets - you know, mesh with wire sides - you could put it on its side and walk her into it, then squeeze two opposite sides closed to keep her in it while you transport her.

@alaskaducks

 

[alaskaducks]

@amiga

thanks once again for your excellent advice. i still haven't been able to catch her safely, she's a crafty one. she will put weight on the foot and walks with a limp, but when she's just standing around she keeps it pulled up. this morning i took them peas and got them to within a foot or two of me, but still can't get the injured one by herself. i think it's her leg and not her foot. do you think i should keep trying to confine her? my gut says "i don't have a clue", and i fluctuate from wait and see, to gotta get her in isolation now. the others are not picking on her. more than anything i don't want to make her situation worse, but i don't want to neglect her either.... arrrggghhh.

 

[Amiga]

At this point - it could be a sprain, those take a while, and letting her go may not be the worst, compared to having her hurt herself trying to escape you.

In your spare time -

- consider setting up a fence chute, a miniature version of what cattle people use for herding their animals in, getting one separate from the herd, and still, so that they can inject vaccines and supplements when needed.

A simple one could be made with posts and netting, or garden row cover fabric, something about 3 feet wide and several feet long.

 

[alaskaducks]

@amiga. thank you once again. i will start on the chute today. i did build an "isolation room" in their coop for future needs. also i set up the watering stations as in the photos you shared. first night without a big puddle on their floor, so thanks again for that! you are truly a wealth of knowledge, amiga, and it is awesome that you are so responsive to all the questions that are posted here. you are the best.

 

[Amiga]

Palabras muy amables, alaskaducks, very kind words.

I am not always at hand, here, a necessity, as I have my own flocks and gardens, but I offer what I can as I can.

Please feel free to PM or use the @, and I do try, even in the field, to check from time to time. Then there are days I am out of range, or really literally duck-walking through our meter-tall Day Pen to manage the flock.

We are introducing a new little one this week - A little Cayuga girl. Awww. That's going well, but it's labor intensive.

No big health issues with her, for which I am grateful.