need advice on treating ducks that were attacked

[cymbaline]

Looks like they had fun during bath time, That's got to be a good sign right?
I'm really pulling for your babies!

Thank you. They really did enjoy it, much more so than yesterday. Boy they got cold though, I guess - they stood about as close as they could to the heater for a good hour or two afterward. I guess between the damage to their feathers and not being able to preen, they really lost waterproofness fast. Definitely gonna go for a warmer bath today, more like a people-bath.

 

[casportpony]

Like I said...not my usual vet and I was unsure of his duck knowledge - that's why I'm here with you folks. I'm sure y'all have not only collectively dealt with this more than him but you've been on the front lines.

But still, getting a baseline weight is something that's usually done with dogs and cats, so why not ducks? What was he thinking?

 

[cymbaline]

But still, getting a baseline weight is something that's usually done with dogs and cats, so why not ducks? What was he thinking?

I have no idea. I did notice the weight of all of them in the carrier was...42-43lbs, I wanna say? Maybe bc the carrier was sitting there on the scale/table, he didn't think to move it and weigh each one?

 

[casportpony]

Could be. But that number is useful because it you weigh all of them and the carrier individually, their total weight should be 42-43 pounds.

 

[Hunters Hen's]

So sorry to hear about your babies. Mine were attached two weeks ago by a mink. I lost 8 calls and two Appleyards. I was devastated! Still am. We caught the mink though, was hiding under the straw. Your pictures do look very similar to the injuries my ducks had. 13 survived with varying injuries. I took my Pekin Percy to the vet as she was definitely the worst of them. She was prescribed antibiotic and a liquid pain killer. Her neck looked bent and swollen which was due to the soft tissue damage from the bites.
I was really worried also about not drinking and eating. But I can tell you that after about 4 to 5 days of TLC, quiet, heat lamp, they really started to turn the corner. I did put pedialyte in their water and they would only eat peas and some corn, but it was better than nothing. I was ready to start tube feeding (thanks to casportpony excellent instructions) but it never came to that. Most of their wounds have scabbed over, but I still like to apply some polysporin on them. They are all eating well now thankfully.
Because of their neck wounds it took a while for them to be able preen properly so I turn my blow dryer on low and they Loved it! I would also put live mealworms in water and they would take that as well. I know what you're going through, it's heartbreaking to see them in any kind of pain. Sending best wishes for recovery.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sorry for your losses

 

[cymbaline]

So sorry to hear about your babies. Mine were attached two weeks ago by a mink. I lost 8 calls and two Appleyards. I was devastated! Still am. We caught the mink though, was hiding under the straw. Your pictures do look very similar to the injuries my ducks had. 13 survived with varying injuries. I took my Pekin Percy to the vet as she was definitely the worst of them. She was prescribed antibiotic and a liquid pain killer. Her neck looked bent and swollen which was due to the soft tissue damage from the bites.
I was really worried also about not drinking and eating. But I can tell you that after about 4 to 5 days of TLC, quiet, heat lamp, they really started to turn the corner. I did put pedialyte in their water and they would only eat peas and some corn, but it was better than nothing. I was ready to start tube feeding (thanks to casportpony excellent instructions) but it never came to that. Most of their wounds have scabbed over, but I still like to apply some polysporin on them. They are all eating well now thankfully.
Because of their neck wounds it took a while for them to be able preen properly so I turn my blow dryer on low and they Loved it! I would also put live mealworms in water and they would take that as well. I know what you're going through, it's heartbreaking to see them in any kind of pain. Sending best wishes for recovery.

I'm so sorry, that sounds horrible!
Thank you for all the info - it's really helpful for me (and my anxiety) to know what to expect and what's normal. I'll try peas again (they didn't really touch them last time, but that was the day of, so...) and corn...I only have dried mealworms that no one has ever really cared for but I'll give them a shot too - they'd probably be easy to eat and good nutrition for now.
I still haven't poked around much at the wounds, but I did spray them all with microcyn at lunch today, and got some nutri-drench in with the antibiotic water, hopefully that makes it more tasty and they'll drink more of it!

 

[aart]

got some nutri-drench in with the antibiotic water

Not sure these should be mixed? @casportpony ?

 

[casportpony]

Not sure these should be mixed? @casportpony ?

It might be okay if the nutri drench doesn't contain any calcium. I would Google tetracycline drug interactions and double check the nutri drench for those ingredients. Generally speaking, I don't use more than one drug at a time in the waterers.

 

[aart]

Generally speaking, I don't use more than one drug at a time in the waterers.

That was my thought, thanks.
I don't even like giving more than one 'treatment' at a time,
otherwise you don't know which one worked....tho this situation may be different.