Large sore on ducks back - darned drakes!

[newbyduckmom]

When I went to put the ducks away for the night, I discovered a large patch where feathers are worn and broken under the wings of one of my hens. And area is bloodied. I assume the drakes did this by breeding with her. I cleaned it up and put neosporin on it. Poor dear. I couldn't believe it was possible for that to be there without me seeing it. Only found it because she flew away from me when I started to pick her up. Drakes are separate again. Hopefully, I haven't lost Peeps due to my continued stupidity. Any suggestions on how to treat the area? Tough to treat under her wings like that....although she seemed to understand I was trying to help because after the first couple minutes she sat pretty calmly in my lap to let me finish applying the antibiotic. Iodine appropriate? Wasn"t quite sure what to use to clean the area before I applied the antibiotic.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Morning treatment done. Looks better this morning. Still would like some input if anyone has any. I am wondering if she is molting. When I treated her this morning, she left quite a few feathers in my lap. Could that have contributed to her injury? Now the only problem is the last time I separated the hens from the drakes they "mated" even more violently than the drakes did. Hope they leave Peeps alone. Too hot to keep her in a kennel in the house.

 

[newbyduckmom]

When I got done treating the area this morning, Peeps was sitting on my lap. I was chattering at her (of course), and had let her go. She continued to sit there and listen as I chattered. Calm as could be. Now maybe it was out of sheer fright (she hates being picked up) but in my deluded I-wish-you-weren't-terrified-of-my-since- feed-water-care-for-you, but I choose to believe the knew I was helping her and opted to stay for a few minutes until I picked her up and put her back on the ground. I wish they didn't have such strong instincts sometimes - but then again, after the eagle attack, I guess I don't.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Morning treatment done. Looks better this morning. Still would like some input if anyone has any. I am wondering if she is molting. When I treated her this morning, she left quite a few feathers in my lap. Could that have contributed to her injury? Now the only problem is the last time I separated the hens from the drakes they "mated" even more violently than the drakes did. Hope they leave Peeps alone. Too hot to keep her in a kennel in the house.

Sounds like your doing good, you could put watered down iodine on it should look like weak tea, but if she swims she'll just wash it off, maybe this evening when putting her to bed, I tell ya ducks can heal so fast it's amazing. But she may be starting in molt some of mine are losing feathers already.