Sickly duck at local produce store...

[Miss Lydia]

Any news?

 

[SampyArctica]

Sorry for not updating! Caught up with orientation week at uni. -_-

I heard back from the store yesterday, apparently the main person who runs their online correspondence is currently interstate. I said that I would call their store to talk to someone else, but was then told today that this person I was e-mailing wouldn't be back until tomorrow night. Which seemed ridiculous that I could only speak to one person about it (I mean...seriously?), but my question of if there was somebody else who I could talk to has gone unanswered. And they've been rather short with me the entire time. It's ridiculous, I'm not happy. I can't make it down to the store very easily at the moment either as the car is currently in the shop, otherwise I would have stormed through their doors demanding answers already. :/

Sorry guys. I will definitely keep you posted though when I hear back from this woman. I'm going to try to get a friend to give me a lift down tomorrow some time though, to check on the duck if nothing else. Stay tuned.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sorry for not updating! Caught up with orientation week at uni. -_-

I heard back from the store yesterday, apparently the main person who runs their online correspondence is currently interstate. I said that I would call their store to talk to someone else, but was then told today that this person I was e-mailing wouldn't be back until tomorrow night. Which seemed ridiculous that I could only speak to one person about it (I mean...seriously?), but my question of if there was somebody else who I could talk to has gone unanswered. And they've been rather short with me the entire time. It's ridiculous, I'm not happy. I can't make it down to the store very easily at the moment either as the car is currently in the shop, otherwise I would have stormed through their doors demanding answers already.

Sorry guys.

I will definitely keep you posted though when I hear back from this woman. I'm going to try to get a friend to give me a lift down tomorrow some time though, to check on the duck if nothing else. Stay tuned.

Doesn't sound like they care too much about the poor lil thing. I hope it won't be too late.

 

[SampyArctica]

No, they don't really seem to have overly much concern for any of the animals there. If I had the money and space, I wouldn't think twice about buying every single one of them. Living conditions are cramped, food and water doesn't seem to be checked on very much, many of the animals have sores or act lethargic, there's one rooster who was blind in one eye...many animals in their mini-"farm" appear to have been there for quite a while. But it's most likely still RSPCA approved since their rules and regulations are a bit of a joke. And yet these are the animals also used as an 'attraction' for the kids. :/

Anyway, I do have another question in the meantime: if I can, if it's still there and for sale, I will be doing my best to bring the duck home today. But I won't be able to purchase a second duck for various reasons - namely money and council regulations (we're technially only allowed six poultry since I live in a residential area and we already have six in the backyard). I'm worried that the duck will get lonely, even if it was being picked on by the baby pheasants it's housed with, they're still somewhat providing company...right? But I don't want to put the duck with my chickens for a few weeks, when it starts looking better and is less of a risk. What can I do to help this situation? I've read mirrors may be able to help, I am also home very near 24/7, but will my constant company be enough? I have a cat who is on good terms with my chickens, can she also be a friend to the duck? Or will I have to also keep my cat separated, in case she transfers something between poultry? What else could I do to ease the stress of being moved to a different place with no other poultry it will be able to see?

 

[Amiga]

I think for now, your company, an unbreakable mirror, perhaps a stuffed animal would work. If this is a female, sometimes they get along okay with chickens.

 

[Dianne1928]

If you can get that poor baby out of there! Ducks are not prone to getting disease. I bet it got some bad food. I would give it a shot of tylan, or just some terra vet 10 tetracycline hydrochloride powder in the drinking water. Childrens vitimins disolved in water work really good too. Not too much though.

I went to look at some ducks last summer. One was almost dead abd they thaught it was funny. I did not say anything, just bought the duck. She had been Starved, beat up by other ducks, no feathers... could not even stand. With tlc she was up and running in 2 weeks, fully feathered and a beautifull duck in 2 or 3 months.
That is somthing i will remember with a smile for the rest of my life.

 

[SampyArctica]

Thanks for all the support and advice guys, it seriously is really appreciated since I'm primarily a chicken girl and haven't the first clue about ducks! I'm asking a lot of help from here too because a vet is out of the question - the local vets won't see poultry/farm animals as again, I am in a residential area. The nearest farm vet is about a two hour drive away and while the other half (the bread winner!) is more than happy to get it out of the store, he's less inclined to pay vet bills since we're on the one income. So if I can help it myself, I'll need any and all advice that can be offered!

Just waiting for my lift to the store now to check up on it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for all the support and advice guys, it seriously is really appreciated since I'm primarily a chicken girl and haven't the first clue about ducks! I'm asking a lot of help from here too because a vet is out of the question - the local vets won't see poultry/farm animals as again, I am in a residential area. The nearest farm vet is about a two hour drive away and while the other half (the bread winner!) is more than happy to get it out of the store, he's less inclined to pay vet bills since we're on the one income. So if I can help it myself, I'll need any and all advice that can be offered!

Just waiting for my lift to the store now to check up on it!

sure hope your not too late.

 

[SampyArctica]

I'm here now and it actually looks much better than it did last week, however it's still breathing heavily, wheezing and not moving around much. Its eyes do look a little brighter. What do you guys think...?

Actually, since I sent in a complaint about conditions here - they may have brushed me off, but it does look like they've cleaned up a bit. Not much, but a little.

 

[Dianne1928]

Yes, it has a respriority infection. I have to look to be sure, but it might still be a carrier if cured. That is easy, antiboiotics. Wait a minute. I will look.