The Duck Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah I ended up spending two days out back all day watching it to make sure it was ok because she wouldn't let me near it and it was fine those two days I got it food and a smaller water dish and it was eating and drinking ok went out the third day all my ducks came out but no baby I looked all over the yard in the water dish could not find it I looked under their house and there it was.... it was sad I still don't no what happened all I can think of its that they squashed it or suffocated it but all the other ducks were gone with it they all protected it and looked after it I was afraid about my male bc at that time he was a little aggressive but he was fine so I don't no

Next time give mama and ducklings a space of their own for about 2-3 weeks the ducklings need time to get strength and it helps to protect them from someone accidently stepping on them when to tiny to be able to get out of the way quick.

 

[duckylove]

Yeah I didn't think about that because the both ducks were fine around it if another one does I'll dtry that thanks!

 

[DuckDodgers]

An update on the split pen. The wood ducks where doing fine with the split pen. Today i put 1 runner on their side to start them getting settled but the woodies went right back to being scared even though the runner left them alone. do you think the will ever get along and not be scared of them?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Help! We can't catch a break! Lily was limping again and low and behold she had a thorn in her foot but closer exam she also has Brumble! Then I found it on 2 more, I'm sure all 8 have it! I don't understand, we keep the area clean, feed them healthy food, vitamin water, clean drinking and pool water. We just can't afford this! A vet trip is going to set us back over $100. Must find home for them we just can't keep doing this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Help! We can't catch a break! Lily was limping again and low and behold she had a thorn in her foot but closer exam she also has Brumble! Then I found it on 2 more, I'm sure all 8 have it! I don't understand, we keep the area clean, feed them healthy food, vitamin water, clean drinking and pool water. We just can't afford this! A vet trip is going to set us back over $100. Must find home for them we just can't keep doing this.

I'm sorry it seems like one thing after another, best to treat these bumbles asap, here's the link very simple procedure, over look the squabbling just follow the treatment. Get them squared away with the bumbles then if you have too find them a good home. Maybe once healed they can stay?? I did this procedure on a chicken and she was healed in less than 2 weeks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/807777/bumblefoot-new-ideas-on-treatment-with-pictures

 

[Miss Lydia]

An update on the split pen. The wood ducks where doing fine with the split pen. Today i put 1 runner on their side to start them getting settled but the woodies went right back to being scared even though the runner left them alone. do you think the will ever get along and not be scared of them?

DD it's hard to say your trying to put 2 domesticated ducks in with 2 wood ducks that are considered wild, maybe that's the problem and if these 2 are a bonded pair could even make integration harder. can you keep your pen split?

 

[Amiga]

Bumblefoot, when caught early, can be treated without a vet. I have treated several episodes in my flock. And it does seem to come in little spurts sometimes.

Also, since you are fairly new to ducks, I wonder if you might be mistaking some of the normal callouses on duck feet for bumbles.

Breathe.

Early bumbles do not need surgery. There are a couple of ways to treat it. Soaking the foot in Epsom salts helps, but I have not always done that. In some cases, I just slather triple antibiotic ointment (no painkiller) on the bottom of the foot three times a day the first few days, then twice a day after that. This method takes several weeks sometimes, but it is inexpensive, not time consuming. And it has worked for me.

For more serious bumbles, the method Haunted55 has written about works well, too, no surgery.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/807777/bumblefoot-new-ideas-on-treatment-with-pictures

 

[Betsy57]

How are the ducks getting bumblefeet?

 

[DuckDodgers]

DD it's hard to say your trying to put 2 domesticated ducks in with 2 wood ducks that are considered wild, maybe that's the problem and if these 2 are a bonded pair could even make integration harder. can you keep your pen split?

I Don't think It would really be fair to the runners to keep the pen split any other suggestions?

 

[PrayingMantis]

Update! The ducks don't have Brumble but Lily does have an infection in her foot due to the thorn that was in it! An injection and 3 days of medicine should help. The others have little abrasions on their feet with black dot scabs and I truly hope the vet is right because this costed over $100 to treat!
Now I'm at the store, can I use Gentian Violet on my ducks feet? It's an excellent product! And can I use New Skin liquid bandage? I would think both are very safe but want to make sure! The Gentian Violet will stay on and work for days of protection so I hope it's safe. I just can't find any info in it! Thanks!