scalped duckling :(

[cymbaline]

So my mallard, Ruby Sue, managed to sneak and hatch an egg two weeks ago last Sunday. As much as I adore the babies, I don't need any more ducks to care for, so I made sure she didn't have any more eggs and let her keep her baby since it didn't have any other babies to keep it company. She had been doing well with it, until yesterday, that is. I came home from work and the poor thing was bald! Not just fluff gone, but skin too... I'm quite sure I'm looking at bone The baby seems perfectly fine otherwise - eyes aren't hurt, thankfully; no bleeding; it's eating and drinking and pooping and peeping just like normal. Obviously I brought it inside, much to momma's dismay. I'm not sure what a vet could even do that I'm not already doing or couldn't do. Baby took a little bath in the tub, and I sprayed its head with Vetericyn. I'm thinking I should try to get some neosporin on it? I'm not sure what else to do. I was reading other threads on here about scalped poultry and one said the bone shouldn't be allowed to dry out?
Anyone else ever been through this and have any advice?

Baby duck when I first found it:

After its bath:

Snuggling with me this morning:

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a precious one. So sorry it got scalped I had a chicken hen get scalped and it was a mess. your lil ones wound looks dry so I'd keep the Vetericyn sprayed on and use the neo and keep flies away if it's open. Had a mama duck attack one of her ducklings at hatch and found it before she injured it too badly she did chew it's lil face up some. mamas can be crazy at times.

 

[getaclue]

Keep a light coating of neosporin, WITHOUT pain relief, or any triple antibiotic ointment like that, on it, and it should heal.

 

[Abriana]

Aww poor baby. Use neosporin without pain killer and maybe some vetericyn

 

[cymbaline]

Thank you all! Good to know I was on the right track.
Seeing the bone is terrifying, but maybe that's better than an open, bleeding wound? I dunno...poor little thing will probably always be bald now, huh?
I really don't think it was Ruby - she has been ridiculously protective of her baby, not letting me get anywhere near it without biting and hitting me with her wings. She bit me so hard one day she actually came off the ground when I pulled my hand back! I'm not sure if the baby got caught in a small opening or something, or if the bigger ducks got mean...they had previously been running away from it, but I think they were getting used to it finally.
Edited to add that since I brought baby in, I've also been giving nutri-drench in its water, along with the usual brewer's yeast in the food.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your doing everything right. Keep us updated on how it's doing.

 

[chickens really]

Was it also with the other Flock members?

 

[PirateGirl]

I have had a dog with an open wound and exposed bone and tendon. The vet recommended and used honey on the wound. This is something that is used with large wounds and burns where it cannot simply be stitched together. It does many things (feel free to do your own research) but in a nutshell it creates an environment that promotes healthy tissue growth and prevents bad bacteria growth as well as keep things from drying out/dying off. Non-stick gauze pad coated with a layer of honey, applied to the wound and bandaged in place. Change daily. Bandage changes can get less frequent as the wound and/or any infection shrinks. I believe if the bone starts to turn brown that's a bad sign that the bone is dying (if I remember right). Everything else you are doing is great, keep it safe and separate from the others, nutridrench, food, water, etc. Good luck with whatever course of treatment you decide. I'm glad the little guy has someone to take care of him.

 

[PirateGirl]

One more thing. If you are bandaging the wound at all, and the bandage gets wet, it needs to be changed. I know things have a tendency to get wet with ducklings and keeping a wet duck water bandage on a wound is asking for infection. Ducks have a way of making things a bit more complicated

 

[cymbaline]

Was it also with the other Flock members?

Yes, the drakes are really hard on Ruby every spring (none of the four other girls, just her), so until her head heals I keep her separate in the pen, so when the baby hatched they were already segregated. The baby could slip under/around the fencing though, and did frequently. I had left it untied the last few days since they had all been going out in the yard for hours at a time together, and I kinda figured if the baby was gonna go all over the pen it was probably better that Momma could follow. The only reaction the others had given to it so far ranged from running scared to total indifference, lol, so I didn't really think about them being a threat, I guess. :/