Treating Injuries Around Head/Eyes

[HomesteaderWife]

Hi all, looking for some input from people who have maybe had similar situation. Our duck today was attacked by another flock member and has large pieces torn into bill, head is very red and bleeding (not through the skin but still very red and irritated) and both eyes nearly closed with one weeping more than other. She has had a warm bath to try and clean her up and examine for any other wounds (none noted) and most the bleeding has stopped. What I have on hand - blu kote and antibiotic ointment. Towels, paper towels, gauze, rags etc for warm cleanup. Have her isolated and warm. My question is in regards to treatment of wounds around the head specifically since its all so close to her eyes - what can we safely treat with? Thank you

edit: also have chlorhexidine

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi! Sorry about your duck. She should be okay. I'd use Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) on the head wounds. It's okay to get it in her eyes as that's used to treat eye infections sometimes too.

You might want to show us a picture of her so we're making sure to address this correctly.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Thank you Debbie, will try and get some photos of her this evening or AM all goes well. We will put some the antibiotic ointment on there (no painkiller in it) for her

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Forgot to add I do also have some chlorhexidine also

 

[Jenbirdee]

Forgot to add I do also have some chlorhexidine also

The chlorhexadine is not safe near the eyes . Follow Debbie’s advice and I would also give her some electrolytes in her water such as rescue 911 . and vitamins such as roosterbooster poultry cell, or nutridrench. I add the electrolytes in the drinking water, 12 hours on 12 hours off(clear water) but I give the vitamins directly by syringe (no needle)

 

[Jenbirdee]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Thank you for the advice thus far. This AM we had another warm bath to help clean her face up and she’s behaving normally trying her best to preen now. Visibility is very limited but she is drinking and also eating some of her dried larvae snacks as they float in water (still trying to get her to find her food when not in tub since it doesn’t float but it’s being offered. Looks like the bleeding has stopped after her antibiotic application last night and trying to keep her eyes carefully dabbed/cleaned with warm soft rag.
Trying to add photos cannot see her bill injuries really but some of the irritated head and eyes visible.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

will be seeking vitamins for her today as an edit

 

[HomesteaderWife]

For this evening's update: no bleeding, eyes still weeping and mostly closed/swollen but keeping them wiped when I handle her. Good spirits and at normal vocal level, doing her best to try and preen still. She won't eat her normal food but is eating a few dried larvae. She's picky to snacks anyways so lettuce on the water was a no go - spit it back out. Anything that floats - any ideas? Her normal food sinks and not sure if anyone around here carries floating pellet. We have her some vitamin/electrolyte powder for water and mixed it up, offer that to her. Having to help her find it with her limited to no visiblity with the eyes currently. Mainly looks like swelling around there causing that so far but keeping an eye on them. More ointment applied which has seemed to help.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Wanted to update that she is in better spirits today and eating a little here and there along with vitamins in her water and TLC. Her head is scabbing up with a bit of new tiny feather regrowth already and bill in better shape. No re-injury and mainly just trying to keep those eyes cleaned. Still swollen a bit around them but she seems to at least have the ability to see some shadows. Her nostrils seem a bit swollen too she got injured there also but she is dunking her head to help them stay clean. She’s having a real good bath this PM and behaving a heck of a lot better with some crazy happy quacks and preening really nice too. We have a small off the ground “isolation” pen near the other flock members that we let her stay in for about three hours total on and off today while supervised with us nearby and it seemed to lift her spirits to hear the other ducks too. Put a little cardboard barrier around the inside walls so she wouldn’t pace and hurt her head or bill. Obviously not 100% out of the woods but a lot better (and as I type she finally gave a big wing flap splash). Not sure if people check back on these posts but so far our girl is improving.