Serious Beak Injury

[Chickenzie]

My sweet Rouen was attacked by a dog early this afternoon. I saw some post saying to clean her beak and make sure flies stay away from her. Her beak looks worse than what I have seen from other post, she is part of my first flock so I don’t have a lot of experience and I was wondering if someone could give me their opinion on it. I want to know if her beak is something she can live with when it fixes or if I need to put her down so she doesn’t starve or thirst to death or suffer more from her pain. Her beak has been cleaned and has had ointment put on it. The photos are graphic, but thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

My sweet Rouen was attacked by a dog early this afternoon. I saw some post saying to clean her beak and make sure flies stay away from her. Her beak looks worse than what I have seen from other post, she is part of my first flock so I don’t have a lot of experience and I was wondering if someone could give me their opinion on it. I want to know if her beak is something she can live with when it fixes or if I need to put her down so she doesn’t starve or thirst to death or suffer more from her pain. Her beak has been cleaned and has had ointment put on it. The photos are graphic, but thank you in advance for your help.

Oh no! I don’t know anything about this so I can’t help but I hope it heals!

 

[Chickenzie]

Oh no! I don’t know anything about this so I can’t help but I hope it heals!

Thank you! We are medicating it at the moment, but we probably won’t know for a week or two.

 

[LaFleche]

This looks horrible!

@Isaac 0
@DuckLady

I tagged some of the duck experts.
Hopefully, they will be able to help you save her.

 

[Alexandra Runner]

@ruthhope

 

[Alexandra Runner]

@Miss Lydia

 

[ruthhope]

My sweet Rouen was attacked by a dog early this afternoon. I saw some post saying to clean her beak and make sure flies stay away from her. Her beak looks worse than what I have seen from other post, she is part of my first flock so I don’t have a lot of experience and I was wondering if someone could give me their opinion on it. I want to know if her beak is something she can live with when it fixes or if I need to put her down so she doesn’t starve or thirst to death or suffer more from her pain. Her beak has been cleaned and has had ointment put on it. The photos are graphic, but thank you in advance for your help.

I had a rescue pekin that lost the end of his bill in a raccoon attack when he was a little fluffy easter duckling.

Keep the bill clean. Keep the duck in a quiet clean place until it heals. I would bring it into the house to care for initially. Bring a quiet friend too if it seems stressed by loneliness.

Bathe the bill in salt water 4 times a day. You can either buy sachets of salt sold by pharmacies for neti pots, or make home made salt solution. If you buy salt sachets, use 2 packets per cup of clean water. If you make your own solution, dissolve 1 tablespoon salt in a cup of clean water. That is the ratio, although I recommend making a minimum of a quart at a time. You can wipe the bill with a gauze swab or a piece of old clean cloth dipped in salt water. Then pour salt water over the end of the bill or briefly dunk the bill into the salt water. But don't leave the salt water where the duck can drink it.

The bill might be unsightly when healed, but the duck will be able to feed herself if her pellets are served in a deep bowl as she will likely plow the pellets against the side. Mine like to fish for peas floating in a deep tub of water.

For now, while the bill is healing, offer liquid duck pellets soup, by dissolving pellets in warm water. Your duck will find it easier to "drink" than nibble.

You might consider putting Rooster Booster Poultry Cell vitamins and minerals in her drinking water to give her a boost while healing

 

[Chickenzie]

Oh no! I don’t know anything about this so I can’t help but I hope it heals!

I had a rescue pekin that lost the end of his bill in a raccoon attack when he was a little fluffy easter duckling.

Keep the bill clean. Keep the duck in a quiet clean place until it heals. I would bring it into the house to care for initially. Bring a quiet friend too if it seems stressed by loneliness.

Bathe the bill in salt water 4 times a day. You can either buy sachets of salt sold by pharmacies for neti pots, or make home made salt solution. If you buy salt sachets, use 2 packets per cup of clean water. If you make your own solution, dissolve 1 tablespoon salt in a cup of clean water. That is the ratio, although I recommend making a minimum of a quart at a time. You can wipe the bill with a gauze swab or a piece of old clean cloth dipped in salt water. Then pour salt water over the end of the bill or briefly dunk the bill into the salt water. But don't leave the salt water where the duck can drink it.

The bill might be unsightly when healed, but the duck will be able to feed herself if her pellets are served in a deep bowl as she will likely plow the pellets against the side. Mine like to fish for peas floating in a deep tub of water.

For now, while the bill is healing, offer liquid duck pellets soup, by dissolving pellets in warm water. Your duck will find it easier to "drink" than nibble.

You might consider putting Rooster Booster Poultry Cell vitamins and minerals in her drinking water to give her a boost while healing

Thank you so much. We have been cleaning her beak and when we did today she drank the bath water (not salted) and it was from what we noticed the first time she drank a lot like normal. We wetted her food and she ate a little bit, but not a lot. I have epsom salt at the house right now, is that safe or would that work like the salt sachets?

 

[Miss Lydia]

This might give you hope also, Ducks are amazing how they can heal and adapt. It depends on the person who loves and cares for them too. I think your duck is in good hands with you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-need-advice.1625259/page-3#post-27777879

 

[Chickenzie]

This might give you hope also, Ducks are amazing how they can heal and adapt. It depends on the person who loves and cares for them too. I think your duck is in good hands with you.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/i-need-advice.1625259/page-3#post-27777879

Thank you so much Miss Lydia. I have been absolutely devastated for the past day not only for my Rouen, but for her sister too. That article is incredible, I pray my girl has similar results.