Please help, emergency duck injury!

[BayBay Peepers]

I will post pictures on the next post. Semi-graphic. I am not as prepared for a duck emergency as I am for chickens so please bear with me. Until today they've never had any major issues. Yesterday we were gone for an event and we came back a little later than the coop is usually closed. Usually I check each chicken and duck before I close the gate, but tada one day I skipped it. This morning it was raining. My ducks love rain, but immediately I could see she was in rough shape. She was soaked and just standing there. I ran to get a towel to catch her because shes not as tame as my chickens, but I caught her easily because she cant see out of one eye. I cant tell if it s gone or shes just keeping it shut tight. The other eye was foaming but I wiped it out the best I could.
I gave her a warm bath and used peroxide to clean the wounds. They are all small and around her head and neck. After we blow dryer her I put neosporin on the cuts. What can i or should I do for the eye? She's resting with food and water now inside. I want her to heal well and prevent further illness but I also want to get her back outside to be with her mate. In the 2 plus years I've had them they have never been separated. Please help in any way you can.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

And sorry for the spelling issues...desperately typing on a phone.

 

[Earthvalley Org]

It's so upsetting to find them like that, I know.
You've done the right things. It'll take time to see if she's actually lost the eye. We had a duck lose as eye from an attack from other ducks that ganged up on her. You'll know within a few days (she functions well with one eye now). You'll need to wash the eye and put in some drops (ex. polysporin eye drops). We actually had the vet come out for that one.
Preventing infection is paramount. Keep any
wounds clean and use antibacterial cream not ointment. We added salt to a basin and bathed her in it twice daily for about a week.
As for being separated from the other duck; stress can impede healing. Do you have an area where they can be together, like a garage?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

 

[BayBay Peepers]

We don't have a closed garage for them its more like a small barn with no doors. I could probably make some kind of area for them, but making it predator proof would be a problem. It would take me a few days to build them a pen, but I'd do it if its absolutely necessary. I was worried that someone might say that about the stress. I'm sure they're both sad right now.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

In your opinion can I put her outside with her mate for the day? She's dry now and clean.
As for a shelter. I just thought now we have a silo where we keep straw for winter (we make them a bed under a trailer for when it snows) I could put them in there but it may get a bit hot during the noon hour.

 

[Earthvalley Org]

I find they do best in their natural environment with as little intervention as possible; aside from dealing with obvious signs of trauma. You can put her back out and if you can confine her to a smaller area with shade, food and fresh water, with her mate, for the next little while that would be ideal. Yes, predator proof is definitely important.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

The worst is also trying to figure out what did it. It almost looks like a bite went around the face because there's divets in her beak. She's kind of wheezy right now. Is there something I can do for that?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I'm thinking the wheez is the blood in her nostrils now that I keep looking her over. I don't think she will take care of herself without her buddy. Theyre just too close and I don't blame them. I am going to out her outside with him and see how they do. I have a feeling if he's around she'll blow out her nose better than I can wipe it. Thank you very much for your help . I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Maverick and Goose will be very appreciative too

 

[Earthvalley Org]

Without seeing the attack you can only guess what did it. Keep her quiet and let her heal.