Update on Little Lou

[Duckfarmer1]

Maybe think about bringing him inside your house for baths once a day or so? That way he can get clean and maybe get the dunking he needs?

Well, I did that, but he HATES the blow dryer, and it’s in the negatires now. I supp I can try again, but I was worried the stress was too much. We stopped Epsom salt baths now too..due to the cold. All my heat lamps are in the barn for the goat kids. Plus, we have a lot of heated stuff going on out there, and two nights the ducks ate throw the heat tape and threw the breaker. We were shocked! I don’t want to add more stuff on the breaker right now.

 

[johntfs]

Well, I did that, but he HATES the blow dryer, and it’s in the negatires now. I supp I can try again, but I was worried the stress was too much. We stopped Epsom salt baths now too..due to the cold. All my heat lamps are in the barn for the goat kids. Plus, we have a lot of heated stuff going on out there, and two nights the ducks ate throw the heat tape and threw the breaker. We were shocked! I don’t want to add more stuff on the breaker right now.

What about using a towel to dry him?

 

[Duckfarmer1]

What about using a towel to dry him?

I do that...but it’s just too cold right now. Lou isn’t like other other ducks. He’s not fully feathered. He can’t...umm, fluff himself up, to get warm and dry and thick. I’d rather he be dirty than too cold and sick right now.

 

[johntfs]

I do that...but it’s just too cold right now. Lou isn’t like other other ducks. He’s not fully feathered. He can’t...umm, fluff himself up, to get warm and dry and thick. I’d rather he be dirty than too cold and sick right now.

Do you have the space/set-up to let him be an "indoor" duck until it gets warm? At this point he's what? Ten or eleven months old? The lack of feathering is just... odd.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I know...he’s a runt. He never got full feathered. I guess you hadn’t read his history. He ate lots of high protein foods. Some of his feathers started tofinally come in at age 8 mths. He even got a quack. The feathers have fallen out now...and he doesn’t quack, probably because he’s sad. He can come back inside, but he was sad and alone for over a month when he got hurt and I had to tube feed him. I didnt want to do that to him again. I wanted him to be as normal as possible.my avatar is him as a duckling....he was a spunky little thing, thought he was a girl forever. The problem is, here in NW PA, we have a good, solid two months of cold winter left. That’s a long time for him to be in my house/barn..alone. I can’t put another duck with him because they are wayyyy too rough on him. He has no way of getting away. He is an odd case. But, I accepted long ago, that he is a runt, and just not as healthy as I would like.

 

[johntfs]

I know...he’s a runt. He never got full feathered. I guess you hadn’t read his history. He ate lots of high protein foods. Some of his feathers started tofinally come in at age 8 mths. He even got a quack. The feathers have fallen out now...and he doesn’t quack, probably because he’s sad. He can come back inside, but he was sad and alone for over a month when he got hurt and I had to tube feed him. I didnt want to do that to him again. I wanted him to be as normal as possible.my avatar is him as a duckling....he was a spunky little thing, thought he was a girl forever. The problem is, here in NW PA, we have a good, solid two months of cold winter left. That’s a long time for him to be in my house/barn..alone. I can’t put another duck with him because they are wayyyy too rough on him. He has no way of getting away. He is an odd case. But, I accepted long ago, that he is a runt, and just not as healthy as I would like.

I don't know Little Lou and I don't have first-hand experience with ducks, but have you consider something like this for his outdoor time?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/297800594091494699/

No idea how much something like that would cost or how effective it would be in keeping him warm. Or if he'd tolerate something like that. I'm just thinking that you have two months of cold left. You can't put him outside due his feather issue and the size/bullying issue. Meanwhile, keeping him indoors will screw with him emotionally and cause you to end up force-feeding him or something. Goofy as it looks, maybe a "duck sweater" might be helpful?

 

[Duckfarmer1]

I don't know Little Lou and I don't have first-hand experience with ducks, but have you consider something like this for his outdoor time?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/297800594091494699/

No idea how much something like that would cost or how effective it would be in keeping him warm. Or if he'd tolerate something like that. I'm just thinking that you have two months of cold left. You can't put him outside due his feather issue and the size/bullying issue. Meanwhile, keeping him indoors will screw with him emotionally and cause you to end up force-feeding him or something. Goofy as it looks, maybe a "duck sweater" might be helpful?

That is a super idea! And you’re sooo kind to be helping sooo much. The only issue I see there is that it keeps his wings in to keep him warm. Lou needs his wings to get around. They support his weight since his one leg cannot. I can look and see if they make ones with holes, because if I cut holes, they would instantly unravel. But, great help! Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Plus wearing something like that and if he got into the pond wouldn't be so good. Your doing fine with him.