Scalped duck injury

[hellfire]

One of my young female ducks sadly got her head caught in the poultry netting. Then one of the turkeys in the other side scalped here.
I’ve never seen a wound so horrific the top of the skull all exposed.
I was amazed she was still alive.
I’m not sure if this kind of injury will heal or if it’s kinder to dispatch her?
I’ve cleaned it all out with hib scrub and put a wound dressing on with vet wrap and cut it so her eyes are exposed. She still has eyes just thankfully but very swollen and she’s keeping them shut.
I’ve put her in a little house on her own and she’s started drinking.
She’s not eaten yet.
I’ve softened some food too for her.
I have metcam pain killers but unsure if I can give a duck that. I also have penicillin injectable which we use on cattle but again unsure if I can or dosage?

As all poultry needed locking up and I didn’t have room to lock the ducks and turkeys in especially in with the chickens, I had poultry netting dividing a covered pen and this is the first incident and want it to be the last. I’ve just ordered a roll of chicken mesh to use instead.

 

[KaleIAm]

I don't have experience with this type of injury. But my vets regularly prescribe me metacam for my ducks. My vets also wrap up almost all injuries my birds ever get. Even slightly raised bruises.

I hope your duck heals up well.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Poor thing. It's amazing how well they heal from some really bad injuries. If you can keep it clean and from infection she'll more than likely heal. As for feeding is she drinking? sometimes when they won't eat but will drink you can make her feed real soupy and try to get her to eat this way. Use warm water.

 

[sourland]

I'd be tempted to remove the dressing and cover the wound with antibiotic ointment. I've never faced this problem with a duck, but have had several scalped pigeons and chickens. Generally when ointment is religiously applied such wounds heal, but it takes time as they heal from the outside inwards. This time of year it is probably not a problem, but it is necessary to keep flies away from the injury. Good luck.

 

[DrHawkeye07]

If it was deep enough to expose the skull, then it probably would need some sutures to heal the best. I would try to take her to a veterinarian.

 

[hellfire]

Success I got her to eat!
Not a lot but better than nothing. I decided to make a real pellet mash as she was drinking well. She started drinking it then eating the chunks in it. Just been checking her very regularly as she’s not opened her eyes yet and worried she won’t find the food and water. So been offering her the bowls by hand for her regularly.
I then just read the suggestion on here about soup food so pleased to report it worked.

 

[hellfire]

Well her eyes opened today and she can see. Damage to one eye lid with a nick out the top and the inner membrane is down over but the other eye looks to be fine. She’s been stuffing her face with food all day which I’m happy about.

 

[hellfire]

Drying up and scabbing up nicely. Still looks terrible but it’s healing slowly. Both eyes are normal now.

 

[Ratchnick]

Scalping injuries are common in quail. I have had several, i did not bandage them and they all lived. Some had so much swelling they could not see for a day or so. They all lived. They were not as bad as you describe but if you can keep the wound from getting infected your duck should be fine.

 

[hellfire]

WARNING! Graphic picture