New disheveled duck. Advice welcome

[Kbduckmom]

Hey all!
I just got a new duck from a Craigslist ad. They were giving her away because they’re drake was cruel to her and the ducks shunned her. They’d had her for two weeks and they got her with a flock of chickens. I just got her today and she’s pretty beat up. Many feathers are missing or broken from the abuse she’s received.

I’m introducing her slowly to my ducks. We have a few males (until mating season) and some have shown dominant aggression and one has been very protective of his hens. Right now she’s penned up on her own near our ducks. She shows no sign of aggression and is extremely submissive. I’m going to give them at least a month before letting them all out together without supervision.

As far as helping her feel safe and nursing her back to health, what advice might you have? Advice for integrating her would be helpful, too.

Thanks!

 

[quackiemama]

@DuckyDonna @Miss Lydia @casportpony might be able to help you!

 

[Duckworth]

Isolation may keep her physically safe, but not be good for her healing process. I would consider allowing her some supervised time with one or more of your duck hens so that she can start becoming part of the flock. As you see which hens she is companionable and safe with, consider having one or two spend time with her each day and perhaps even overnight. A duck can be safe in isolation, but not feel safe, which can cause stress that hinders recovery. I would keep her away from your drakes until she is fully recovered and has established some relationships with the other ducks.

This isn’t necessarily the right way, but it’s what I would start off doing until I saw that something else would be better. When my ducks were injured by a raccoon, companionship was a vital part of recovery, but I had to watch carefully and put compatible companions together.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Poor ducky! - She needs a lot of love and care to develop some self-confidence. I would keep her separate from the other ducks on a see-but-no-touch base and observe. Maybe there is a duck in your flock that starts to talk to her and can join her after a while in that separate space.

 

[quackiemama]

I feel bad for her and agree with @WannaBeHillBilly that she is going to need lots of extra love and peas and tomatoes and mealworms and watermelon and so on and so on and so on...........

 

[MROO]

Hey all!
I just got a new duck from a Craigslist ad. They were giving her away because they’re drake was cruel to her and the ducks shunned her. They’d had her for two weeks and they got her with a flock of chickens. I just got her today and she’s pretty beat up. Many feathers are missing or broken from the abuse she’s received.

I’m introducing her slowly to my ducks. We have a few males (until mating season) and some have shown dominant aggression and one has been very protective of his hens. Right now she’s penned up on her own near our ducks. She shows no sign of aggression and is extremely submissive. I’m going to give them at least a month before letting them all out together without supervision.

As far as helping her feel safe and nursing her back to health, what advice might you have? Advice for integrating her would be helpful, too.

Thanks!

Awww ... poor little mama! Once her quarantine is over, do you have a quiet female you could pair her up with, so she has a buddy when she integrates with the main flock?

 

[Kbduckmom]

Thanks for the support and advice! More is always welcome. I’ve given her a large section of the yard and occasionally bring my females to roam around with her. I’ve made sure she has plenty of food and treats.

What are your ducks favorite treats? She needs a lot of protein for regrowing feathers.

This is the first I’ve seen her fully relax. Yay!

Yesterday she didn’t lay down all day.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Great progress! Ducks only lay down when they feel safe! So that is a very good sign, she likes where she is now.
My ducks #1 treat is meal-worms! Lot's of proteins, tasty and lokks exactly like the stuff a duck would dig up naturally. Unfortunately a bit expensive.
Second is dry cat-food. I have tried two different store brands, they seem to like the stuff from Kroger better than from Aldi. I have only tried the "chicken-meat and vegetables" so far, my ducks are laying eggs and i don't want to risk having any "fishy" smell in the eggs.
For supper they get a bowl with lots of greens, garnished with meal-worms and cat food. So far i have collected dandelion-leaves for them, they love iceberg salad and now all of the sudden red-kale is their favorite. Poop looks funny, shades of pink and lavender and doesn't stink that much.

 

[Duckworth]

I add dry kitten food because the pieces are smaller. My ducks like mealworms too, but they are quite pricey.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think what everyone else has said is really good. Since it's summer and they are plentiful, you might could try some chopped up tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber too in addition to meal worms and dry cat food.

I also think it would be a great idea to give her some B-complex over something she likes to eat. That is very good for her and will help her heal. 1 ml over something she will eat up or if you're good at it give it by syringe.

Like others have suggested if you've got a calm sweet girl duck to see if you can put her with her for company so she can begin to feel like she's part of the flock. I've had to separate my flock of 11 but through trial and error have found the perfect mix right now. If that varies its chaos so be patient.