Please help! Injured duck. Need advice.

[duckylover8]

We love this little lady. She's less than a year old and it seems the other male ducks at the pond are mating with her. She had missing feathers last week and was hiding a lot and walks with a slow waddle. This week she is back at the pond but mostly just resting. Her wounds healed but she hasn't moved around like normal. Today we saw she is wounded even worse. What can I do to help her? Should we try to relocate her to a different pond? Leave her be and let her use her instincts to survive mating season? Do something else? We bring her food and water each day and try to chase the males off. (Nicely) Other than that, I'm not sure what to do. Do you think she will make it? She looks pretty bad.

 

[MissNutmeg]

I think you need to quarantine her till she is completely healed and feathers are back in 100%. I would apply Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment daily, also you could give her NutriDrench in her water to boost her system. Please keep me updated. And btw, welcome to byc!

 

[MissNutmeg]

Is she drinking and eating still, without help?

 

[duckylover8]

Yes. She wanders down to the pond to sip water and eat. It is just not nearly as frequent. She's waddling quite a bit more side to side as if she's slightly injured. So she moves slow, which I think is contributing to how often she eats and also how she is able to defend herself from the males.

 

[duckylover8]

Thanks for the welcome! I have followed for some time. It's a great community and resource. I'm not sure how to quarantine her because I don't have a place at home to care for her. This pond is about a block away too. Any suggestions?

 

[MissNutmeg]

Hmm... Do you have a dog crate? Or maybe an unoccupied rabbit hutch?

 

[duckylover8]

I don't, but that's a good idea. I can grab one. Her wound is healing up and she is swimming to get water and food, but not much more. She's been resting by the edge of the water for most of the time. The ducks seem to be letting her be for now, as if they have lost interest, which is good considering she is still wobbling about a bit.

 

[MissNutmeg]

I hope she gets well soon! If you have any further questions, just ask!

~Meg

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I use a dog crate for when my birds get injured, keeps them away from harm but still around the flock. It's also useful for smaller chicks when adding them to the coop, gives them a few days to get used to each other.

 

[duckylover8]

Thank you for the suggestions. She is doing much better healing up now.