Lost Flipper to Unknown Predator

[shawluvsbirds]

All of the ducks are up on their feet and a bit more active. Nipper is still the worst off. It’s time for me to do their first dose of oral antibiotics. The vet told me how to do it and provided the medication and oral syringes, but I’m worried about hurting Nipper’s bill. She’s probably the one who needs the antibiotic the most. I’ll let you know how it went.

Yes, updates please when your able
So sorry this happened
Very happy to hear you had resources available to you!
hopefully you can figure out where the beast got in.

 

[Quailguy728]

If you need to extend your Wifi system out to your enclosure, I'm sure they do have relay system that will carry the single that far, it just may get a bit costly.

Very sorry to hear about your ducks, but glad to hear they're recovering. It's seems like the biggest challenge to ducks, chickens, (quail in my case) etc, is keeping them secure in outdoor enclosures. Good eye opener for us all. Hope everything goes back up the hill from here!

 

[Duckworth]

Thank you, Everyone for your ongoing support. It really makes a difference to not feel so alone in coping with this situation. It’s funny. I sometimes wonder whether it matters whether or not I chime in with a show of support or encouragement when so many others are already involved. Let me assure you that every single one of you has been a help in this time of trouble.

I have no proprietary feelings about any thread I start. Conversations naturally take twists and turns, so the discussion of cameras and monitoring of duck pens, etc., doesn’t bother me in the least. It’s all useful information that I will undoubtedly benefit from at some point as I go on from here to try to better secure my little flock. This incident is all about both security and treatment/recovery.

I went to give my ducks the antibiotics and discovered that the vet had forgotten to actually give them to me. He thought his assistant already had. So I went home without them, thinking I had them. I spent quite awhile searching the house and truck for them before calling the vet and learning that they still had them in their refrigerator. So I went back to their office and got them.

It was a bit of a struggle to give the meds. I tried to give Nipper’s first because I thought to do the hardest one first so that it would get easier. I was barely able to give her any, since she struggled and I was trying to be so careful of her bill. I eventually gave up and just spent some time gently wiping blood off of her feathers with a damp warm washcloth. She seemed to like that a little. She still has dried blood caked on her head and I think one eye may be sealed shut by the blood, but she seems so sore that I’m just going very slowly and gently and letting the dampness of the cloth loosen a little blood at a time. She is drinking some from the water bucket in the bathtub, so I figure she will dunk her head more when she is up to it.

Flipper was easier to dose, since she isn’t as injured and I didn’t have to be so, so gentle. I sang her song and used the bathroom mirror to help me know when I had the syringe between her bill. The vet said I should just give a few drops at a time and not to be too worried that some might get into her airway. By going really slow, then waiting for her to swallow a bit before giving a little more, I was able to give the whole dose without having to try to get the syringe way past her airway. I just put it at the joint of her bill and have a few drops, the went back and did it again until it was gone.

After getting the hang of it with Flipper, I tried again with Nipper and was successful. Feisty Girl doesn’t start until tonight. The vet gave her another shot this morning when she got her stitches.

Thank you, again, for all of your support, encouragement, advice and counsel. I really appreciate it!

 

[DuckyDonna]

You are a great duck mom/dad!

 

[Duckworth]

You are a great duck mom/dad!

I’m a mom. My husband usually puts the ducks in their house and closes the doorway from pen to house every night, so he discovered the carnage. We literally screw the doorway closed every night, so once the ducks are in their house, they should be very safe and only a little less so in the pen. They will be inside for several days, at least, while they recover. I’ll have plenty of time to enhance security and for the raccoon to come back and find everything empty.

 

[Ms Clucky]

I had the ice thing happen to me. I poured hot water on it and then scrapped it right after. You might want to check for holes around the edges. It might be a skunk, mink, weasel. Something of that nature. Maybe put a camera out there tonight and bait it. I would use a live trap and bait it with a piece of meat.

 

[Duckworth]

Our ducks are looking progressively better. Not good. But better, which is all we can hope for. No one looks like she is actually dying. We will see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Great update. At this point that’s a good report considering what they have been through. Your doing a great job caring for them!

 

[WVduckchick]

Baby steps are still in the right direction.

 

[Duckworth]

Great update. At this point that’s a good report considering what they have been through. Your doing a great job caring for them!

I have to admit that I fell asleep for three hours after picking up my husband from work. I got about two hours of sleep last night and I just couldn’t stay awake any more. It is now dark here and I never went out to check out the pen. I’m feeling a little traumatized along with our ducky girls. I didn’t have the energy to dig through the snow and ice today. I’m nearing the end of my recovery from major shoulder surgery and have had two eye surgeries in the past two weeks, so I’m feeling a bit wiped out at the moment.

My husband is going to help me dose the ducks with their evening antibiotic and I’m going to crash for the night.

Thank you to all of you for your ongoing support and encouragement!