There’s a duck in my bathtub

[VeeKay]

So.. today I went my local supply store, got to talking about how I do water therapy with my chicken with a broken leg. Turns out, they had a duck in a pen that had been returned due to a broken leg. The ducks owners wanted the store to cull but the store forgot about her on culling day! The store owner made her a brace and made her comfortable until the next cull day. The bone actually healed but she lost muscle and is still limping, so the owners do not want her back at all.

I offered to do water therapy with her as I’m doing this twice a week with my chicken. I’m completely new to ducks and am doing this all on the fly.

She is splashing around happily in my bathtub and I have a separate pen set up for her in the chicken shed. Any advise, direction or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. She’s soooo sweet and beautiful. What kind of duck is she? (Pic below) Once she’s healed I would like her to go somewhere with a proper pond. What do I feed her? Any supplement suggestions for while she’s healing? I have Rooster Booster and a variety of FlockLeader powders.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

She is a Welsh Harlequin. She needs duck food (prefered) or all flock. For right now a small cage 3-4 ft square with a small pool like a bus boy tub or a horse food bowl to float in would be best. If she can float all day that leg will heal more quickly. Please do not release her on a pond. Ducks need water but not necessarily ponds. They do not have any way to defend themselves, no sharp beak, sharp talons, and most cannot fly so they are an easy lunch for many creatures. After you rehab her it would be best to find someone with other ducks who locks them up at night.

 

[MerrilyKate23]

She’s beautiful! Best of luck rehabbing, this might not be helpful but when my daughter broke her foot we gave her a sort of whole food calcium supplement, I’m guessing some oyster shell or something similar might be helpful for the bone growth?

 

[Finchbreeder]

Very pretty breed of duck.
Good luck with the rehab and finding her a forever home once she is all good.

 

[Yardmom]

An all flock food such as Purina's flock raiser or Kalmbach's flock maker with calcium on the side could be fed to your duck and your chickens.

I have had ducks live in the coop with my chickens.

 

[VeeKay]

So much great advice and encouragement here, thank you!

We’ve been doing daily and sometimes twice daily long swims in the bathtub to start, several hours at a go. She loves loves loves being in the water.

I didn’t see her eat until yesterday when I put the food IN the water and she could dive for it. I offered everything possible from pellets to various fruits, veggies, sprouts and oats. My neighbors have a large fenced in garden where she can go hang out and forage if she likes.

In the meantime I have her in a pen in the chicken shed until she gets her strength back. Sometimes I put her in a blanket filled basket for a while after long swims.

Thank you again!

 

[Seaslug]

I think it is great that you are giving this duck a chance. I hope you will update when you can.

 

[VeeKay]

I think it is great that you are giving this duck a chance. I hope you will update when you can.

Mabel is really coming along. She’s still very shy but has started to vocalize at me, stretch her wings and is much less fearful. I give her as much bathtub time as possible every day and that leg is coming along wonderfully! She also seems to enjoy garden time.

I had been concerned she didn’t eat for the first few days but quickly realized she wants to dive for her food. Anyway, my bathtub is pretty gross by the end of the day but Mabel is happy, eating, interacting and healing really well.

This is a picture of my view when I have to use the bathroom.