Muscovy duckling broken neck?

[ducklover128]

I went to check on our 9 muscovy babies, and one was standing on another ones neck. It isn't moving very much at all, it's pupils are going big and small, big and small real fast. I can feel her breathing and she is moving around a little. What can I do? She is wrapped in a towel in my lap for now.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm sorry, I really don't know what you could do short of having her inside and warm. Do you have electrolyte solution? There are recipes to make it at home, too. You can try that, to help with shock.

 

[ruthhope]

Poor baby.

Its hard to tell whether the duckling's neck is broken from the story. It may be suffering from constriction to the bloodflow to the brain -- and if so will likely fully recover with a little tender love and care, at the moment.

Bring the little one inside and make a warm safe place for him/her to rest and be warm. Maybe a towel or old cloth in a cardboard box will work, depending on how big the duckling is. At this time of year be sure it will be warm enough all night.

Someone has already advised about making oral electrolyte solution. Tractor Supply is still open and so you should be able to by some poultry cell there. If you don't have one nearby, whichever pharmacy is open for emergency supplies, will have pedialyte in sachets to make up with water or liquid in cartons. It has the advantage of containing glucose which will stop the duckling going hypoglycemic if s/he is not eating.

You can make homemade solution by disolving 1 teaspoon table salt and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 pint of boiled water -- add while the water is fairly hot so that they dissolve, and continue to cool it before giving it to the duckling.

BEWARE you must use only 1 teaspoon of salt; do not make a mistake and use 1 tablespoon, as that may kill your duckling.

Otherwise just keep her quiet and calm and hope for the best. Please keep us up dated

 

[ruthhope]

@duckloveris there an update on you muscovy duckling?

 

[ducklover128]

I'm sorry y'all, I meant to reply earlier than this, but I kept the duckling in a box with a blanket and towel, I gave her a little sugar water, which she finally started to drink, I tucked her in my jacket sleeve right around the top near my neck and we took a small nap on the couch. I woke up to her chirping and running all over me like a crazy person. So I put her back with her mom and siblings, and everyone seems great. Thank y'all for the advice. I'm not sure if she was too cold or what, but she is ok now.

 

[ducklover128]

We really thought her neck was broke....she was holding her head weird, and it looked like her neck had a 90 degree angle in it, which was odd....but she's all perked up and acting like the rest of her crazy siblings...starving and thirsty all the time, chirping like crazy and watching me like I'm the devil duck slaughterer.

 

[ruthhope]

Good news!

 

[ducklover128]

Tuesday morning, I fed them all, everyone was fine. Had to go run errands, came home a few hours later and my baby was dead I don't know why, I don't know what happened. Then I went in there today, the other female baby was sitting with her butt in the drain hole, like she was in a recliner, and not looking so good. I took her out, warmed her up, she seems ok, but now I'm terrified to put her back with the rest of them. Please somebody help. I don't know what to do. I just want everybody to be safe and happy....I can't handle losing another one.

 

[ducklover128]

Nothing seems wrong, but she is extra clingy to me. Which makes me happy, but I know she wants and needs to be with other ducks. Them boys r just so big, I'm afraid they will trample her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If the drakes are old enough they can be separated from mama and the young females.