OMG!!! Duck born without eyes! ***UPDATE!! 11/01 with pics***

[newfoundland]

I was just wondering if your duckling's closed eye could be stuck with mucous? One of my ducklings had both eyes shut and I bathed them with a cotton wool swab and cooled boiled water, three times a day, much the same as a baby with sticky eyes. At first, although they opened briefly, they got stuck again quite quickly, but after two days of this treatment they remained open. Just a thought anyway Good luck to you and your little patient.

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

I don't think that eye is comming. Usually when a "disabled" animal has a major defect and minor defect they usually end up being the same or very simmilar, especially with eyes.
I love reading this thread, it is soo touching. I've never had an animal born with defects, but many accidents have happened on the farm. Cat got ran over (lived after expensive surgeries, but totally worth it). He's still alive, and my favorite cat. My dog was ran over by farming equipment, now she has three legs, but can still run faster than everyone lol.
I do like the idea of another duck living with him/her. When the duckling is an adult or getting there, you should introduce a younger one with it. The younger one will bond with it, and care for it while your not. This ofcourse is if they are kept separate from other ducks. It was a good idea, a very good one. I don't really know my ducks, so this might not be a good suggestion if ducks have a strict or aggressive pecking order.
Have fun!

 

[bufforp89]

Update on Stevie!

At this point Stevie is a full grown female pekin duck! She is doing very well and lives life as a normal duck. Im pretty sure that she has some vision in one of her eyes, the other one never opened and the one that did is milky and smaller than a normal eye. At this time Stevie is living with her mom and dad duck. The mom was attached by a racoon awhile back and when she was in the hospitalization cage I introduced Stevie to her and they bonded. They all live pretty happily together. Some pics:

 

[backdoorchicken]

Awesome!!!!!

 

[backdoorchicken]

is that a black bunny hanging out with them in the first pic?

 

[luvchicks8]

that is great!!

 

[chicks4kids]

So glad to hear that Stevie is doing well! I was wondering how she was doing..........glad to hear everything worked out fine! I'm sure they communicate much more than normal by sounds and I'm sure she's got the best hearing in the world!!

 

[dieselgrl48]

Wow thats a tough descision not culling the duck.I am so glad to read the updated post and see it's doing fine.I have riased a couple of Disabled duck's myself.We did sadly have to put down I think 2 in raising because so bad one was para, and the other had upside down neck.Yes it require's more dedication and love but they are SOOOO worth it in the long run.I nursed a footless duckling to adulthood due to turtle attack a duck without a top bill beacuse turkeys pecked its top bill off.They were different but had a good quality of life and was able to get around eat drink and flourish fairly normaly with the other's.A handicap in young does not neccesarly mean the bird should be put down.AWESOME Job

 

[Pollitollito]

ok people I have a blind baby so I will kill my baby, the same as with pets. If she can eat and drink, you will have the way to secure her, she will learn how to's. Please so if my husband get paralisis, I will cull him? no way

 

[kla37]

Good for you and Stevie! He looks great! People and animals born with a handicap learn much more easily and quickly to compensate for it. Esp if they are mobile. I'll bet he has super hearing and tactile senses to help make up for it! I know the attitude toward people and animals is different, and that's OK. I just always pull for the underdog, I have Multiple Sclerosis and it's hard to live with, but I have to learn to compensate too!