need advice on treating ducks that were attacked

[cymbaline]

I really don't know I am sure if she did get away she was terrified. Do you have any idea what the predator was how it got inside.

I think I do...I moved the door last summer so I could build a deck next to the pen and I didn't get the hardware cloth stapled well enough on the panel next to the door. That's absolutely the only spot anything besides a rat could've gotten in (they tunnel underground, even under the apron...ugh), and by far the only way they could've taken a duck out. But were no feather or hairs or blood or anything in that spot, like you'd think there'd have to be with the wires scraping on them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Top is covered too? Rats wouldn't kill adults ducks I don't think or carry any off.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This has some excellent information

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nd-supportive-care-updated-5-14-2018.1048620/

another good one

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/emer...are/wound-management/initial-wound-management

 

[cymbaline]

I am very sad for you. My best advice is to follow your vets instructions and if any start looking more depressed get them back to the vet ASAP. In the meantime, keep them in a warm, clean place.

So don't clean the dried blood or try to get veterycin on the wounds? Maybe tomorrow? It just feels very wrong to do nothing to them at all, but that's what he said...
They are staying in my bathroom tub which has a supplemental heater running to keep them a little cozier (not too hot, just around 70).
And the other two are in my dining room and not a bit happy about it. No way is anybody spending the night outside for the foreseeable future.

 

[cymbaline]

Top is covered too? Rats would kill adults ducks I don't think or carry any off.

Yes - pen is covered top to bottom and a 1 foot apron underground in 1/2" hardware cloth. That one spot is the only potential weak spot, and I feel so guilty for not doing more about it but after so many months I thought it wasn't a problem. I've had that pen for 6.5 years and never had any trouble, even with all the modifications I've made off and on.

 

[casportpony]

So don't clean the dried blood or try to get veterycin on the wounds? Maybe tomorrow? It just feels very wrong to do nothing to them at all, but that's what he said...
They are staying in my bathroom tub which has a supplemental heater running to keep them a little cozier (not too hot, just around 70).
And the other two are in my dining room and not a bit happy about it. No way is anybody spending the night outside for the foreseeable future.

Normally I would clean and debride, but if your vet thinks it's better not to, then I would listen to him/her. I don't want to contradict what your vet suggested because it could make matters worse.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If @casportpony doesn't think you should do anything other than what the vet recommended then maybe you should follow that advise. I believe for my own birds I would have to clean them up but that is just me. I wouldn't even be able to take mine to the vet so I would be on my own.

 

[cymbaline]

Normally I would clean and debride, but if your vet thinks it's better not to, then I would listen to him/her. I don't want to contradict what your vet suggested because it could make matter worse.

Like I said though, not my usual (knowledgeable) vet, and I don't know how much experience he has with them. If that's what you'd do, I believe I trust that more. Even the link Miss Lydia posted said I should clean the wounds. I'm thinking at least a warm wet washcloth around the area couldn't hurt, and then I can see if the wounds are very deep or not (it really bothered me that he didn't even look).

Edit: just noticed you wrote the post she linked to, lol.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I know it's scary but follow your gut! I've got medical background and I'm ok with doing things myself but then again I don't have an avian vet that I can go to. I would think that if the duck is calm it wouldn't hurt to very gently clean things up. Before you do it how do you feel @casportpony and @Miss Lydia?

 

[casportpony]

Like I said though, not my usual (knowledgeable) vet, and I don't know how much experience he has with them. If that's what you'd do, I believe I trust that more. Even the link Miss Lydia posted said I should clean the wounds. I'm thinking at least a warm wet washcloth around the area couldn't hurt, and then I can see if the wounds are very deep or not (it really bothered me that he didn't even look).

Trust your gut! If you feel like the vet did not assess the wounds properly, then very carefully take a close look at them and clean them if they look like they need to be cleaned.