My pekin has an injury, I need advice

[kyra359]

It is a rainy day and my ducks have been out since early morning playing in puddles. I went to try to bring them inside and saw that my beautiful pekin has a hole in her back!!!!!

She is acting normal- foraging, running after worms, swimming but every once in a while she will pay attention to that area on her back. Kind of cleaning it...

I got them inside and got her some fresj fruit and greens and an extra bed of hay. My ducks arent the type to cuddle and let you pick them up. Options for a warm saline bath and putting ointment on the area arent very practical in our circumstance.

I guess i am really wondering.... Do i need to try to get her to the vet (will be a stressful ordeal)? I keep reading ducks do pretty well healing themselves, but it is hard to just stand back and see her wound.





I have pictures but don't know how to add them!

 

[Debs Flock]

Do you have any idea what caused the injury? The pics are pretty important. I'll go find the link to a thread that gives good instructions for uploading pics.

Do you have any types of wound sprays on hand like Vetericyn?

I don't have much experience so I'll tag other members that can probably help more.

@casportpony
@Amiga
@Miss Lydia

 

[Debs Flock]

Here's the link to read for instructions on uploading pictures.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-on-how-to-upload-pictures-onto-the-byc-forum

It's been a long while and I'm not sure if this still applies, but I seem to recall that new members used to be unable to post photos until they had at least a certain number of posts. I don't remember what the number was.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is a rainy day and my ducks have been out since early morning playing in puddles. I went to try to bring them inside and saw that my beautiful pekin has a hole in her back!!!!!

She is acting normal- foraging, running after worms, swimming but every once in a while she will pay attention to that area on her back. Kind of cleaning it...

I got them inside and got her some fresj fruit and greens and an extra bed of hay. My ducks arent the type to cuddle and let you pick them up. Options for a warm saline bath and putting ointment on the area arent very practical in our circumstance.

I guess i am really wondering.... Do i need to try to get her to the vet (will be a stressful ordeal)? I keep reading ducks do pretty well healing themselves, but it is hard to just stand back and see her wound.





I have pictures but don't know how to add them!

@kyra359 you really need to take a close look at that wound. But before you do that make up a saline solutions so while you have her you can go ahead and clean the area. Ducks do heal really well but it all depends on how bad the wound and how much time the owner puts into their care.

 

[kyra359]

She is still in good spirits. Took a nap this afternoon but drinking and eating well.

 

[Debs Flock]

Can you try to get some close up pics of the wound? It definitely needs to be cleaned out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

She is still in good spirits. Took a nap this afternoon but drinking and eating well.

It looks like a pretty good size wound. Any ideas how she did that?

@kyra359 if you have a TSC close by or a well stocked feed store see if you can get some Veterycin spray for wounds and infections, you can do an initial cleaning then use the Veterycin spray on her so you don't have to catch her every time. What you'd want to do is spray her in the evenings and take out the water so she can't wash it off.

 

[Amiga]

Almost looks like someone (cat, dog, other) tried to take a bite out of her. I agree - clean it, try to keep it clean, rinse with saline a few times a day,

Keep flies away from her - they will lay eggs in the wound.

 

[kyra359]

Thanks everyone... a few followup qusetions

1. Tips on keeping flies away? It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so I should be okay until Saturday.
2. How should I make a saline/cleansing solution? Could I put it in a squirt bottle? She'll come close enough that i could get good aim at it.

 

[Amiga]

Keeping her in a place shielded from flies is what I would do. Storey's Guide recommends a powder. I don't like using poisons, though.

WebMD has a recipe for saline solution, I think. You could try squirting it. You may need to figure out how to get closer to her.

It would be good to figure out the cause if possible to prevent a recurrence.