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We couldn't get Ginger stitched up today because she is trying to pass an egg. Hopefully, she will pass it so that she can be stitched up tomorrow. In the meantime, I am not quite sure this whole stitching up the ducks is going to work. I am trying so hard to remain optimistic, but I am starting to wonder.
Some of you have asked what David Holderread said about this situation, and what could have caused it. He and my vet said basically the same things.
1. That the ducks started laying too soon. They were hatched on May 2, 2011, and started laying the first week of November. That would be the normal time frame for them to start laying. Mr. Holderread did say that is was a good idea not to give the ducks any artificial light. This way they wouldn't produce eggs too early, and would hold off until they are older and more mature. My vet made a good point when he said that my ducks shouldn't be laying now, but because of artificial lights like heat lamps, etc., they lay when typically they shouldn't be.
2. That they are overweight. Ginger weighs 7.2lbs, while Cafe weighs in at 6.3lbs. So they are both at normal weights.
3. Possible bacterial infection from one duck being spread from the drakes to the other ducks. Mr. Holderread wonder if this couldn't be a possibility, but my vet wasn't too sure. He gave me antibiotics anyway.
4. Over mating. BINGO!!! I really feel like this is the main cause of the problem. The drakes nearly drown one of the girls a weeks ago, and I almost lost her. If I would have known that they could be so destructive, and cause all these problems I would have separated them a long time ago. I feel so horrible about the abuse these girls have gone through. I made one excuse after the other about separating them. Like, too much snow or no place to put them. Which by the way is true, none the less, it should have been a top priority of mine to get the drakes away from the ducks.
Ginger and Cafe are in closets in complete darkness so that they won't be laying any eggs. When I took Ginger to the vet the first time he told me that he thought he could feel an egg, and sure enough she is trying to lay. Hopefully, after this she won't lay for a while. Their lives depend on not laying any eggs until the prolapse is heeled. The other two girls are in the duck coop but in a little caged off area with a black tarp over them. I don't want them laying any eggs until they have heeled. They already look better, and luckily did not lay today. The drakes are completely confused but will have to deal with being in a bachelor pad.
Thanks everyone, and keep praying for us.
Oh, should I let them swim in water with the stitches? I keep reading how soaking in water is good for them but I don't know if that is ok with stitches. What about the sugar? Can that be used on them?
Some of you have asked what David Holderread said about this situation, and what could have caused it. He and my vet said basically the same things.
1. That the ducks started laying too soon. They were hatched on May 2, 2011, and started laying the first week of November. That would be the normal time frame for them to start laying. Mr. Holderread did say that is was a good idea not to give the ducks any artificial light. This way they wouldn't produce eggs too early, and would hold off until they are older and more mature. My vet made a good point when he said that my ducks shouldn't be laying now, but because of artificial lights like heat lamps, etc., they lay when typically they shouldn't be.
2. That they are overweight. Ginger weighs 7.2lbs, while Cafe weighs in at 6.3lbs. So they are both at normal weights.
3. Possible bacterial infection from one duck being spread from the drakes to the other ducks. Mr. Holderread wonder if this couldn't be a possibility, but my vet wasn't too sure. He gave me antibiotics anyway.
4. Over mating. BINGO!!! I really feel like this is the main cause of the problem. The drakes nearly drown one of the girls a weeks ago, and I almost lost her. If I would have known that they could be so destructive, and cause all these problems I would have separated them a long time ago. I feel so horrible about the abuse these girls have gone through. I made one excuse after the other about separating them. Like, too much snow or no place to put them. Which by the way is true, none the less, it should have been a top priority of mine to get the drakes away from the ducks.
Ginger and Cafe are in closets in complete darkness so that they won't be laying any eggs. When I took Ginger to the vet the first time he told me that he thought he could feel an egg, and sure enough she is trying to lay. Hopefully, after this she won't lay for a while. Their lives depend on not laying any eggs until the prolapse is heeled. The other two girls are in the duck coop but in a little caged off area with a black tarp over them. I don't want them laying any eggs until they have heeled. They already look better, and luckily did not lay today. The drakes are completely confused but will have to deal with being in a bachelor pad.
Thanks everyone, and keep praying for us.
Oh, should I let them swim in water with the stitches? I keep reading how soaking in water is good for them but I don't know if that is ok with stitches. What about the sugar? Can that be used on them?
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