The Duck Thread

[MandyJ]

After 18 years of raising layers I finally figured out how to peel them. I have large/jumbo layers and I like mine hard boiled.

I salt the water moderately (not enough to float an egg) and boil 15 minutes, then put the pot in the sink and run cold water in until I can handle the eggs. I then break open the air cell and run water into the air cell. It helps separate the membrane from the egg and peels easily if the egg is hot and the water cold.

Thanks! I'll try it.
M

 

[MandyJ]

I'm really worried about the amount of blood Fred has lost. everytime he shakes, fresh blood drips. Are these blood feathers that I have circled? Should I try to pull them?? Still no wound found and this is not at his vent. He's pooping just fine, no blood. @Miss Lydia
@Amiga
@WVduckchick
@Pyxis
@jchny2000
@casportpony

Anyone??

Is it a wound? Did something bite him?
M

 

[Ren2014]

Is it a wound? Did something bite him?
M

I can't find a wound, puncture, tear or anything. I'm just so baffled.

 

[MandyJ]

I can't find a wound, puncture, tear or anything. I'm just so baffled.

Just a torn place? Could you clean it with hydrogen peroxide, put antibiotic ointment on a gauze patch and use the vet tape to wrap him. I'm not sure you will get a bandage to stay on that.

Wow! Wonder what happened? Could he have tried to fly over a fence and one of the spikes got him?

Good luck!!
M

 

[Ren2014]

Just a torn place? Could you clean it with hydrogen peroxide, put antibiotic ointment on a gauze patch and use the vet tape to wrap him. I'm not sure you will get a bandage to stay on that.

Wow! Wonder what happened? Could he have tried to fly over a fence and one of the spikes got him?

Good luck!!
M

Not even a torn place. No flap of skin or anything. I started Epsom soaks and washing with Betadine yesterday as soon as I noticed it. I'm also spraying Blue Kote on it. I thought the Blue Kote would dry it up but it seems to be bleeding more so today.

He had been trying to fly the days prior to this but not able to get off the ground. I'm just at a loss

 

[Ravynscroft]

I'm really worried about the amount of blood Fred has lost. everytime he shakes, fresh blood drips. Are these blood feathers that I have circled? Should I try to pull them?? Still no wound found and this is not at his vent. He's pooping just fine, no blood. @Miss Lydia @Amiga @WVduckchick @Pyxis @jchny2000 @casportpony Anyone??

I would say that whole area is a wound... looks like he is molting, and something ripped a chunk of feathers out and took skin with it... yes, those look like blood feathers... I'm not certain if you should pull them or not, but putting pressure against those will probably hurt... I hope someone with more knowledge responds soon...

 

[Pyxis]

I'm really worried about the amount of blood Fred has lost. everytime he shakes, fresh blood drips. Are these blood feathers that I have circled? Should I try to pull them?? Still no wound found and this is not at his vent. He's pooping just fine, no blood. @Miss Lydia @Amiga @WVduckchick @Pyxis @jchny2000 @casportpony Anyone??

Those do look like blood feathers, so if he keeps bumping them and reopening them it would make sense that you keep seeing blood. They bleed an impressive amount for such little things. You can try applying flour, cornstach, or Kwik-Stop if you have it to the end of the feathers to stop the bleeding, but if he's just going to keep knocking them back open they may need to be pulled. If so he may bleed from the follicle afterwards for awhile so you'll want to have one of the above substances handy to apply to stop the bleeding. To avoid having to yank them, I'd personally try just separating him out into a dark quiet place for awhile and keep him calm and see if you can keep him from causing them to bleed again. They can lose enough blood from blood feathers to die, so I'd definitely try to get the bleeding stopped. Bandaging the whole area with vet wrap and gauze to apply pressure to the wound may also help, and might help keep him from bumping them and getting bleeding started again.

 

[Ren2014]

I would say that whole area is a wound... looks like he is molting, and something ripped a chunk of feathers out and took skin with it... yes, those look like blood feathers... I'm not certain if you should pull them or not, but putting pressure against those will probably hurt...

I hope someone with more knowledge responds soon...

Thank you so much. He is definitely molting. I really don't want to pull them or hurt him any more.

Those do look like blood feathers, so if he keeps bumping them and reopening them it would make sense that you keep seeing blood. They bleed an impressive amount for such little things. You can try applying flour, cornstach, or Kwik-Stop if you have it to the end of the feathers to stop the bleeding, but if he's just going to keep knocking them back open they may need to be pulled. If so he may bleed from the follicle afterwards for awhile so you'll want to have one of the above substances handy to apply to stop the bleeding.

To avoid having to yank them, I'd personally try just separating him out into a dark quiet place for awhile and keep him calm and see if you can keep him from causing them to bleed again.

They can lose enough blood from blood feathers to die, so I'd definitely try to get the bleeding stopped. Bandaging the whole area with vet wrap and gauze to apply pressure to the wound may also help.

Thank you. I had separated him yesterday expecting the bleeding to have stopped after the soaks, betadine and spray but he bled quite a bit today just sitting in his pen. I now have him inside in a bathtub. I read not to put Kwik stop on the skin as it can burn so I will try the cornstarch and flour. I'm not sure how I could get the vet wrap to stay on without covering his vent but I will try.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thank you so much. He is definitely molting. I really don't want to pull them or hurt him any more.

Thank you.  I had separated him yesterday expecting the bleeding to have stopped after the soaks, betadine and spray but he bled quite a bit today just sitting in his pen.  I now have him inside in a bathtub.  I read not to put Kwik stop on the skin as it can burn so I will try the cornstarch and flour.  I'm not sure how I could get the vet wrap to stay on without covering his vent but I will try.

So glad Pyxis replied!

I know how hard it is to keep vet wrap on a cone shape on a moving animal, lol... it may sound like a lot, but if nothing else you could try an x shaped wrap... go over each 'shoulder' right in front of the wing joint and cross between his legs and back up... it should make a V below his vent you can hold the gauze with...

Hope that made sense?

 

[MandyJ]

Not even a torn place. No flap of skin or anything. I started Epsom soaks and washing with Betadine yesterday as soon as I noticed it. I'm also spraying Blue Kote on it. I thought the Blue Kote would dry it up but it seems to be bleeding more so today.

He had been trying to fly the days prior to this but not able to get off the ground. I'm just at a loss

Is he a young bird?
M