Rounder has a friend!!!

[duckyfromoz]

They look such such a cute couple. Fond friends already. So lovely of you to take in the extra homeless duck and take care of her. They both have a better chance of a normal life with you caring for them. Rounder is so big already!! It really is amazing just how fast they grow.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Those are sweet pics - it looks like you have a ducky paradise in your yard.

Angel wing, aside from a possible genetic predisposition, is said to be associated with too much protein in the diet. It is possible that the original owner fed the starter feed a little longer than needed. After around 4 weeks old their protein levels should be dropped to about 14%. The turkey starter is probably higher protein than that, but is sounds like you are mixing in greens and grains that lower the protein level. It wouldn't hurt to add some niacin. I have heard some people bye store brand niacin tablets and add them to the feed ground up.

I don't think angel wing is painful fortunately. If you try taping her up again using tape or vet wrap, I wonder if it would help to then cover her with some sort of sheath. I have read where someone used a tee shirt with leg holes cut out stretched over the body. in the case of this little duck, perhaps a t shirt sleeve or a very stretchy stocking would work. She may not like it, but it could help keep the wrap in place.

 

[Duckville denizen]

Thanks for the suggestion about the sheath. If I can catch her tomorrow, I may try that. She is one elusive little duck, and since I am a 76 year old woman who had major surgery two weeks ago, that poses a problem. Incidentally, her friendship with Rounder is somewhat strained. Rounder is huge, as you can see, and since she can't see a thing, she blunders right into Susie. Today, when they tried to share the kiddie pool, Rounder was absolutely traumatized that something was in the pool besides her. It freaked them both out, resulting in them both bolting from the pool. Maybe time will make it better.

 

[Duckville denizen]

Good news! Rounder and Susie both swam at the same time today, not freaking each other out as they did yesterday. I took Rounder down to their cage today when it was so hot in the rest of the yard, and when there was shade down there, and instead of closing her up as I had been, I left the door open. She is always more content there, since she knows her food in on one side of the door and water on the other. Susie crept down there as soon as I left, and soon, both of them were sitting contentedly in the shade of their house. I did find niacin today and started adding it to their drinking water. Still haven't done anything else about Susie's Angel Wing. I really want to get her a bit more accustomed to her new home before traumatizing her any more.

 

[Duckville denizen]

We had a major milestone this morning. Rounder actually got into the kiddie pool by herself! She walked up, took a sip, and then, got into it. This is the first time I haven't had to pick her up and put her in! Way to go, Rounder Girl!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
What a sweet story, Rounder sounds like the perfect match for your new lil Susie...