Sorry for writing a book :
The morning started off fine. I let my ducks and chickens out for some free-range time.
My younger brother was home, so I felt safe to go quickly to the store with my mom to pick up a few things.
We were only gone about an hour, when we pulled into the drive way and my father came running out to the car.
At first, he said a hawk had attacked a chicken, but later we found out that wasn't so.
I ran out the backdoor with tears running down my face frantically looking for my ducks and chickens.
I looked and saw them all hiding in the pine trees, trying to escape the hawk's wrath.
The closer I got to the trees, the more I knew something was wrong.
All four chickens came out and were fine. Then our drake and one of my two females came out.
My other female duck, Sonny stayed in the bushes which I thought was odd.
Slowly, she waddled out to greet me--I knew this wasn't good. I saw blood on the top of her bill and whitish scratch marks from the hawks talons. The fear that gripped my heart was unreal. I brought some water for her which she gently sipped. I noticed the ridging underneath her bill was sticking out. I'm assuming that the hawk ripped the flesh underneath her bill out with its talons. I didn't see any blood in the water.
I have the duck and chicken runs currently covered with blueberry netting. (I plan to cover them with some heavier metal wiring, chicken wire etc.)
A few minutes later, the hawk came back into our yard. I ran out the door and screamed at it and it immediately flew away.
I guess being a loud Italian pays off for once LOL.
Is there anything I can do in the morning to make Sonny more comfortable or to prevent infection(s)?
For food, I plan on just feeding them a rice and pea mash-up, because I know she won't be able to eat the hard feed we give to her.
Any and all advice will be appreciated<3.
Thanks!
~Jess
The morning started off fine. I let my ducks and chickens out for some free-range time.
My younger brother was home, so I felt safe to go quickly to the store with my mom to pick up a few things.
We were only gone about an hour, when we pulled into the drive way and my father came running out to the car.
At first, he said a hawk had attacked a chicken, but later we found out that wasn't so.
I ran out the backdoor with tears running down my face frantically looking for my ducks and chickens.
I looked and saw them all hiding in the pine trees, trying to escape the hawk's wrath.
The closer I got to the trees, the more I knew something was wrong.
All four chickens came out and were fine. Then our drake and one of my two females came out.
My other female duck, Sonny stayed in the bushes which I thought was odd.
Slowly, she waddled out to greet me--I knew this wasn't good. I saw blood on the top of her bill and whitish scratch marks from the hawks talons. The fear that gripped my heart was unreal. I brought some water for her which she gently sipped. I noticed the ridging underneath her bill was sticking out. I'm assuming that the hawk ripped the flesh underneath her bill out with its talons. I didn't see any blood in the water.
I have the duck and chicken runs currently covered with blueberry netting. (I plan to cover them with some heavier metal wiring, chicken wire etc.)
A few minutes later, the hawk came back into our yard. I ran out the door and screamed at it and it immediately flew away.
I guess being a loud Italian pays off for once LOL.
Is there anything I can do in the morning to make Sonny more comfortable or to prevent infection(s)?
For food, I plan on just feeding them a rice and pea mash-up, because I know she won't be able to eat the hard feed we give to her.
Any and all advice will be appreciated<3.
Thanks!
~Jess
