Please help! Something is wrong!!

[gravitystar]

I just wanted to update Peepers condition.

I finally found a vet that takes ducks - there is one in Sussex County NJ called Animal Hospital of Sussex, they take them but charge about 90 to see the bird and then 216 for x-rays... And then another I found in Warren County NJ - The Animal Mansion - where I took Peeps last night. They were concerned about her being egg bound and tried to do an x-ray but the power went out and didn't return while we were there so they did an internal exam and found nothing... they examined her legs and didn't think anything was broken and because she had decided to start standing on the car ride there!!

They think our drake just beat the crap out of her and hurt her leg... they also think the reason she is not laying is because she is just so upset and stressed that she just stopped. I am to bring her back if she doesn't lay in the next few days. She is improving and walking some last night and this morning... I was told not to even let her see the drake or hear him... that if could make her worse.
The vet also said to spoil her and asked what I feed them and how often so I ran down the list of all the fresh veggies they get everyday and the crumble... Apparently Peeps is half starved... so my Drake has not been letting her eat either.

Here is a hard question... What do I do with this male? I cant have him nearly killing my girls because he is a jerk face. Will this behavior stop? I know the spring is when they get crazy but he is off the charts. He has not let the girls in the pool in almost a month and even with him crated they still will not go in now. Do I find another home for him? I am already his 2nd home... I got him when he was prob 4 or 6 months old...

I just can't have him doing this to my girls, they were here first and they are my babies...

Thank you all for your comments and help with this, I am very appreciative of it!!

Peepers first ride in the car! Look at how perfectly good she is!



You can see her one angel wing, the other was torn off by the drake...

 

[gravitystar]

I am b

If her legs hurt her, then removing the weight might make it possible for her to move her legs much more easily.

You say she is broody. How long has she been on the nest? How often does she go off the nest and what does she do?

And you, you need to be careful about the bed rest and taking care of yourself.

Ducks can get sprains and muscle pulls and pinched nerves. Bath therapy can help with all that.

She has been broody I feel like forever... A few times I have seen her on the nest but not that often but I can't go down there anymore and I rely on what my husband tells me and I haven't been getting the full story from him about things. She wasn't walking for 2 days before I noticed her dragging herself around... I was furious with him, I still am. Ming was supposed to be crated the whole time, he was putting him back in the house at night with the girls against my wishes. I had posted on here a month or two ago about my jerk duck and I was advised to keep him away from her so I knew already that there was a problem.

I promise, I am being careful and taking care of myself!! ;0) Thank you!!

I put her in the bath every night so she has time off her legs!!

 

[Amiga]

I hope you have a friend who can help with the ducks. The drake needs to be separated, and the ducks need some lukewarm bath time, perhaps some poultry vitamins in their water.

 

[smonkeySK]

I'd probably get rid of a drake like that to be honest; I wouldn't like doing it but nevertheless I wouldn't let my girls suffer if I could stop it.
First separation, if that doesn't calm him down I'm afraid there won't be many other options.
EDIT - you could increase the number of girls but this could easily backfire..

Peepers is beautiful btw

 

[gravitystar]

I'd probably get rid of a drake like that to be honest; I wouldn't like doing it but nevertheless I wouldn't let my girls suffer if I could stop it.
First separation, if that doesn't calm him down I'm afraid there won't be many other options.
EDIT - you could increase the number of girls but this could easily backfire..

Peepers is beautiful btw

:0( I was hoping that I wouldn't get that answer but I honestly knew that might be the only option... I am going to give it some time and see what happens. Once Peeps is all normal again, I will put her back in the pen with his crated and see how it works out... How long does this aggressive behavior last, just for mating season or the rest of the season?

*edit: Thank you, she is as sweet as she is adorable!

 

[smonkeySK]

It's hard to say; all ducks are different- it could be a phase or he may just be a nasty bugger...
My drake is no different in nesting season as to any other time of the year - he's randy all year round!
It's the girls that get nasty in my lot - hormones and all that.

You'll just have to separate and see how it goes.
I hope it works itself out without too much hassle

 

[gravitystar]

Peepers Update: She finally laid an egg yesterday! I was so happy!! So he must have just hurt her so bad and stressed her so much that she stopped laying. She is still having a hard time walking but I am hopeful that will get better with time. She is super skinny so I am trying my hardest to fatten her up!

Ming is currently crated in the pen, man, that duck is angry about the crate but I just do not care! The girls lay right next to the crate... I just don't understand. He beat the crap out of her and she lays right next to him, love I guess.

The vet is happy that she laid and we are just going to hope the legs get better over time. Poor adorable thing!!

Thank you all so much for your advice and time!

 

[smonkeySK]

Her leg is probably just a strain injury; a week of minimal activity and the bath therapy should see her right.
Glad she laid, it's always a worry when they stop popping them out!
Fingers still crossed for peepers, and also for your drake calming down

 

[gravitystar]

Her leg is probably just a strain injury; a week of minimal activity and the bath therapy should see her right.
Glad she laid, it's always a worry when they stop popping them out!
Fingers still crossed for peepers, and also for your drake calming down

Thanks - I let him out yesterday under my supervision and he walked out of the crate, up to her, grabbed her by the neck and smashed her to the ground and got on her back... I screamed for my husband to get him and he was promptly put back in the crate... I really think he is going to have to go... But I am giving him 30 days from yesterday, I hope he stops...

 

[smonkeySK]

If he's mounting them on the ground then your girls could easily hurt their legs; my lad only ever tries while on water so the girls are under minimum strain while he gets jiggy.

Could you facilitate it for them to be introduced in water - let him have his way, then see what happens when they get out of the water.
I imagine it will all go wrong, he'll chase her out of the water and grab her on dry land again. But it's got to be worth a shot if you're able to try; especially if it's the last chance saloon for him