Please Help! New Duckling Owners...

[Miss Lydia]

Can you post an update about Ducky this morning? Any improvement?

My girl (or boy) is about the same. I started the Prednisolone and Selenium yesterday to go along with the Polyvisol. We'll have to see if the cocktail works.

We're all thinking about you

X2

 

[pekinsam iscool]

to tell if its a he or she they have to be about one month old. The boys have a lighter quack than females and have a curl at the tail.

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm wondering about Ducky, too. The longer I don't hear anything, the worse I fear.

 

[Carcajou]

I'm wondering about Ducky, too. The longer I don't hear anything, the worse I fear.

X2

 

[thesmiths]

Let me start off by saying...joining BYC has to be one of the best experiences ever! Everyone is so helpful and thoughtful, it amazes me. Thanks yall

Scuba (the healthy duckling) is doing wonderful! He is growing like crazy, poopin' like a champ, and has the most playful spirit. He likes to nibble on my husband's arm hair and poop on his pants...it's adorable. We don't want him to grow anymore!!!

Ducky was not doing so well yesterday. In fact I cried for about 2 hours trying to think of anything that would calm her down, get her to eat/drink, and make her comfortable. We thought for sure that she was dying. She went from 2.4oz to 1.5oz in one day... She kept flopping into her water and not drying herself off, her legs were limp, and she was screaming. It was really hard to watch. My husband and I said a few prayers and kept hand feeding her (not force feeding) every hour and she still wasn't looking any better. Thinking she was dying, we put her in a smaller box with a stuffed animal and a towel in hopes of making her cozy and relaxed...it worked. She was able to dry herself off, get comfortable, and fall asleep. We left lots of food on the towel and a small ramekin of super B-complex water in the corner. Hubby and I went to bed, said a couple more prayers.

This morning, I thought for sure I would walk into their room and see a lifeless duckling...but Ducky was still alive and ALL the food was gone. And she did a number on the water. It was a miracle with a bunch of happy tears. And I'm happy to announce than Ducky is now 2.5oz and seeming much much better. We could not get her to eat much yesterday, so as you can imagine the vitamins and supplements would have been impossible. We didn't even try, and the same goes for today. She refuses to eat when we have to force her to take the meds. But she is drinking the super B-complex water still, so that's something.

We have not let her swim since Tuesday, just because we don't want her getting wet right now. She shakes and screams and fusses even when her water bowl gets her wet. Scuba went swimming today while the dogs watched him, and he was so loving it. He misses being with Ducky though. You can tell he's stressed when he doesn't know where Ducky is. But we'll occasionally put Scuba in Ducky's box and they snuggle together. They're just not enough room in there for both of them. Ducky is getting better at propping herself up on the wall standing up, but still isn't walking.

So there's the update for everyone...we really hope she continues to be happy and be healthy for us. I don't think I can handle another scare like that!

P.S. I don't think I've ever brought this up before, but it looks like there's something sticking out of the bottom of Ducky's crest. We thought it was temporary, but it's still there! Its dark and hard, has a tiny strip of feathers on the bottom and what looks like a nail at the tip...I swear it's a toe/claw...anyone know what it might be?

 

[thesmiths]

Sorry for the delay in updating yall and causing everyone to worry...I had an exam this morning and a night lab. All is good for now

 

[desertdarlene]

I'm glad you let Scuba and Ducky be together sometimes. I hope Ducky gets better. I don't know about the thing on her crest, but it might be some malformed down or feathers. I know that crested ducks have a skull that is not completely closed up, but I don't think it has anything to do with that directly. I would have to see it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know most of us who have been waiting thought the worst, thank you for posting and happy to hear Ducky is still with you. Hopefully as she continues to drink the B complex water you see even more progress with her as B's do work on the nervous system. Can you upload a pic of what your talking about with her head? And if you can make Ducky a donut shaped out of a towel where you can prop her up inside of it she may like that you just have to make sure she can get food and water. Please know we are all pulling for Ducky and you all, and hope soon Ducky and Scuba can once again enjoy scooting around in the tub together.

 

[jenniemig]

I know most of us who have been waiting thought the worst, thank you for posting and happy to hear Ducky is still with you. Hopefully as she continues to drink the B complex water you see even more progress with her as B's do work on the nervous system. Can you upload a pic of what your talking about with her head? And if you can make Ducky a donut shaped out of a towel where you can prop her up inside of it she may like that you just have to make sure she can get food and water. Please know we are all pulling for Ducky and you all, and hope soon Ducky and Scuba can once again enjoy scooting around in the tub together.

X2

 

[Carcajou]

I know most of us who have been waiting thought the worst, thank you for posting and happy to hear Ducky is still with you. Hopefully as she continues to drink the B complex water you see even more progress with her as B's do work on the nervous system. Can you upload a pic of what your talking about with her head? And if you can make Ducky a donut shaped out of a towel where you can prop her up inside of it she may like that you just have to make sure she can get food and water. Please know we are all pulling for Ducky and you all, and hope soon Ducky and Scuba can once again enjoy scooting around in the tub together.

X3