Maggots on duck

[SittinDuck]

Maggots feed on dead flesh. They will not cause a wound.
There is a surgery known as larval debridement therapy where fly lava (maggots) are placed in the body to eat away at dead flesh but leave the live stuff alone. If they caused wounds, then this type of thing would not be possible.
sorry, that is just an example I'm using but I guess you understand me.

Yep, I've seen it debated in other threads whether maggots cause or heal wounds.

The difference in this case is the feathers around the skin are making a nonsterile environment for bacteria to fester which causes the necrosis that feeds the maggots in a self-perpetuating cycle. I'm not suggesting that the maggots are eating live tissue, but the existence of the maggots are causing the dead tissue which they then feed on.

Also it was pointed out in the other threads that the fly larva used in surgery are specially developed for that. I don't know how true that is.

I've heard stories of people being healed by maggots, but that's human skin that isn't covered in feathers.

What I know for sure is there was no wound before the maggots came, then suddenly half her back is one big abrasion. Even if we assume there may have been a small wound that originally attracted the maggots, how do we explain the growth of the wound to cover nearly half her back? If I had let it continue, the duck would be dead now, not healed by the maggots.

So it seems pretty clear that the maggots can cause wounds by some mechanism.

 

[KingD]

Yep, I've seen it debated in other threads whether maggots cause or heal wounds.

The difference in this case is the feathers around the skin are making a nonsterile environment for bacteria to fester which causes the necrosis that feeds the maggots in a self-perpetuating cycle. I'm not suggesting that the maggots are eating live tissue, but the existence of the maggots are causing the dead tissue which they then feed on.

Also it was pointed out in the other threads that the fly larva used in surgery are specially developed for that. I don't know how true that is.

I've heard stories of people being healed by maggots, but that's human skin that isn't covered in feathers.

What I know for sure is there was no wound before the maggots came, then suddenly half her back is one big abrasion. Even if we assume there may have been a small wound that originally attracted the maggots, how do we explain the growth of the wound to cover nearly half her back? If I had let it continue, the duck would be dead now, not healed by the maggots.

So it seems pretty clear that the maggots can cause wounds by some mechanism.

So what's your plan then? Might have to keep the duck indoors for a bit while the problem is sorted. I keep ducks but have no experience with maggots on ducks so I'll be learning as well.

All the best.

 

[SittinDuck]

You could use a pump to drain the water.

It wouldn't get all the dirt out. Even when I flip the pool I still have to hose it out.

 

[SittinDuck]

So what's your plan then? Might have to keep the duck indoors for a bit while the problem is sorted. I keep ducks but have no experience with maggots on ducks so I'll be learning as well.

All the best.

I'll probably just continue as I have until I have time to reintroduce her back to the pond.

 

[Painted Calls]

It wouldn't get all the dirt out. Even when I flip the pool I still have to hose it out.

You'd need to hose it out as well. Instead of dumping you'd be pumping though.

 

[Painted Calls]

You'd need to hose it out as well. Instead of dumping you'd be pumping though.

Or you could install a drain. This is what I'm in the process of doing. Tired of dumping water.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Pekins are meat ducks, amd brcause they grow larger faster than other ducks, they need more niacin.

No, ducks do not have their legs turn inwards until they break unless there is something wrong.

Most ducks are lucky to make it past 5 or 6. 10-15 Is practically impossible unless you have an absolute perfect animal in perfect conditions

Dogfood is not duck food. They need proper feed, especially lemons because again, they're meat ducks and they grow larger and faster than other ducks.

Cravings are not what is needed, they are what is wanted. Sure, you might crave healthier things, but here I am, eating out of a bag of jellybeans as my literal breakfast because I wanted some candy. And I have several birds that would fill up on moths and fly pupa before looking at their feed if they had a choice. I don't give them that choice though because I know it's unhealthyP

I have a male pom pom duck live till he was 12. "Pekin with hair on top of head" he was a happy man and for the first 5 years of his life he ate frozen peas....and lived in an apartment. I know it sounds crazy but a person gave him to me that way.....he did a couple months ago but it is possible.....

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have 2 Pekins, a hen and a drake. They're no longer free ranging so use a kiddie pool. They have no problem keeping themselves clean at all. Their bottoms don't sit under the water. They clean by splashing about.
Can you get pictures of the bottom of her feet?

 

[SittinDuck]

Or you could install a drain. This is what I'm in the process of doing. Tired of dumping water.

That's a lot of work for something temporary lol

I'm going to try to reintroduce her to the pond when I get time and see how that goes. I was worried that the maggots would attack her at the pond but now that I know being up here unable to clean herself is the problem I feel better about her being at the pond.

 

[SittinDuck]

I have a male pom pom duck live till he was 12. "Pekin with hair on top of head"

Pom Pom Duck. I didn't know what they were called.

12 is a long time. What was his main diet?