Lone survivor duck - mental health?

[Seatownduckmama]

We are completely traumatized that two of our beautiful, sweet, and only 3 month old cayuga girls were attacked and killed last night by raccoons. Our one survivor is a little wobbly on her legs and has a gash in her neck - we think she'll be ok physically, but she's obviously upset.

We have her in our shower - where we raised she and her sisters from babies, and I slept in the bathroom with her.

I know I need to get her some new friends which we will when she's recovered from her injuries, but my concern is her mental health. I can't seem to find any info about, well, duck PTSD...ie, is her duck house going to scare her from now on? If she hears things creeping around at night is she going to have a heart attack? We just so want her to feel safe and comfortable again...

 

[onaharley]

So sorry for your loss!

Did you take her to a vet for her injuries? How big is the cut on her neck? Pictures please. Internal injuries could have happened, sorry I'm not trying to scare you, just want to make sure you are aware.

She will need friends to make her feel safe, I know that you know this.PTSD like symptoms will occur - depression, not eating, and sleeping a lot......and she will want to be by your side at every moment until new feather friends can be found. Try getting a stuff animal like a duck and a shattered proof mirror for her until then.

 

[chickens really]

Get her a mirror so she sees her reflection ..Sorry that happened..

 

[Seatownduckmama]

Thank you - will do that now. And a stuffed animal as some other posts have said. Any ideas about the "ptsd" of the coop etc?

 

[Seatownduckmama]

So sorry for your loss!

Did you take her to a vet for her injuries? How big is the cut on her neck? Pictures please. Internal injuries could have happened, sorry I'm not trying to scare you, just want to make sure you are aware.

She will need friends to make her feel safe, I know that you know this.PTSD like symptoms will occur - depression, not eating, and sleeping a lot......and she will want to be by your side at every moment until new feather friends can be found. Try getting a stuff animal like a duck and a shattered proof mirror for her until then.

Thank you so much - I'm heading upstairs to get mirror and stuffy now. No vets available in my area today (Sunday) unfortunately, but talked to a friend who's a general farm vet. He said that since she can stand (wobbly) and she's drinking, she should be ok until I can have her looked at tomorrow.

I have gauze on her neck, but the bleeding's stopped. Her body is also making this weird gravel sound. Almost like she's got grit rolling around inside of her. I think it might be a digestive/stress thing.

I'd take pictures, but she's a cayuga, so all her feathers are black - we only knew she was bleeding by touch.

She's definitely sad - and so am I!

Any ideas about how she'll react to the scene of the crime?

 

[junebuggena]

Thank you - will do that now. And a stuffed animal as some other posts have said. Any ideas about the "ptsd" of the coop etc?

Unlike people, animals don't fixate on past experiences. They get over things much easier and faster than humans. Only humans obsess over the past. Animals are all about the here and now.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

Unlike people, animals don't fixate on past experiences. They get over things much easier and faster than humans. Only humans obsess over the past. Animals are all about the here and now.

Thanks Junebeggena - helps me feel better - you're right that we humans can project our own feelings on animals...I can't even look at their house today...just sends me to weeping again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How did the raccoon get to your ducks?

So very sorry for you losses.

 

[onaharley]

Thank you so much - I'm heading upstairs to get mirror and stuffy now. No vets available in my area today (Sunday) unfortunately, but talked to a friend who's a general farm vet. He said that since she can stand (wobbly) and she's drinking, she should be ok until I can have her looked at tomorrow.

I have gauze on her neck, but the bleeding's stopped. Her body is also making this weird gravel sound. Almost like she's got grit rolling around inside of her. I think it might be a digestive/stress thing.

I'd take pictures, but she's a cayuga, so all her feathers are black - we only knew she was bleeding by touch.

She's definitely sad - and so am I!

Any ideas about how she'll react to the scene of the crime?

Good hear you got an option for vet help...when the vet is closed.
I have heard my ducks crop do that gravel thing before so I wouldn't worry to much on the that.
Got ya on the black duck in taking pictures.

 

[Seatownduckmama]

How did the raccoon get to your ducks?

So very sorry for you losses.

Sadly, the lock on our normally very secure coop was not closed all the way - or that's what we think. Oddly, the there was no carnage inside the coop so I'm wondering if the coons opened it and the ducks freaked and tried to run....oh it just makes me so heart sick!