DaffodilDucky
In the Brooder
- Apr 20, 2023
- 5
- 20
- 24
If anyone can please offer advice.
I’m a long time lurker, this is my first post.
My two sweet ducks were severely attacked on Monday. Weasel or raccoon.
Coco was killed and eaten and the only trace was a few feathers left in the coop.
Daffodil (Saxony) SURVIVED the attack. I’m on day three with her now. She is the most wonderful girl. She’s 4 years old. I’ve had her since she was a day old. Pandemic project ducks for the family.
Her entire neck is RAW with puncture wounds on her head and neck. My main concern is there is a part of her bill that looks slightly detached. She sounds mechanical when drinking. She has a gaping hole in her face and I can see through. Will this grow back? What can I do to help her heal? ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE SO GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I am working with my vet who is delightful but she is not an aviary vet. I have been keeping her neck moist. Spritzing with calendula and water. Draping a damp paper towel across her neck.
She started antibiotics yesterday (amox-clav 400)
She IS drinking but not really eating, although she did take a bit of food from my hand this morning and did manage some lettuce. A tiny bit. I added some nutri drench to her water.
Giving her daily epsom salt baths
She IS PREENING
I took her outside in the sun today to help dry her feathers better after her tub. She quacked and was able to walk a bit outside.
She preened for a good five minutes with great range of motion for her neck considering her extensive injuries.
I have her in my bathroom. She is pretty much staying in one place. She hasn’t laid down at all that I have seen. Her life force is strong. If she were behaving sick and not caring for herself or responding to me I would euthanize. She’s very much alive. I want to give her the best chance to survive.
Thank you for reading. And any helpful advice you can offer.
I’m a long time lurker, this is my first post.
My two sweet ducks were severely attacked on Monday. Weasel or raccoon.
Coco was killed and eaten and the only trace was a few feathers left in the coop.
Daffodil (Saxony) SURVIVED the attack. I’m on day three with her now. She is the most wonderful girl. She’s 4 years old. I’ve had her since she was a day old. Pandemic project ducks for the family.
Her entire neck is RAW with puncture wounds on her head and neck. My main concern is there is a part of her bill that looks slightly detached. She sounds mechanical when drinking. She has a gaping hole in her face and I can see through. Will this grow back? What can I do to help her heal? ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE SO GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I am working with my vet who is delightful but she is not an aviary vet. I have been keeping her neck moist. Spritzing with calendula and water. Draping a damp paper towel across her neck.
She started antibiotics yesterday (amox-clav 400)
She IS drinking but not really eating, although she did take a bit of food from my hand this morning and did manage some lettuce. A tiny bit. I added some nutri drench to her water.
Giving her daily epsom salt baths
She IS PREENING
I took her outside in the sun today to help dry her feathers better after her tub. She quacked and was able to walk a bit outside.
She preened for a good five minutes with great range of motion for her neck considering her extensive injuries.
I have her in my bathroom. She is pretty much staying in one place. She hasn’t laid down at all that I have seen. Her life force is strong. If she were behaving sick and not caring for herself or responding to me I would euthanize. She’s very much alive. I want to give her the best chance to survive.
Thank you for reading. And any helpful advice you can offer.
Did your vet by any chance mention Meloxicam for the pain? She isn’t eating much because it is extremely painful with the puncture wounds in the neck, missing the entire cheek muscles, broken bill etc. To survive this she will need to either start eating on her own soon or be tube fed. Ducks wither away very quickly without food even if they are perfectly healthy otherwise. However, I would ask your vet what she thinks about tube feed as I am not sure if tube feeding is even possible with her injuries. Personally, unless she can be on pain medication I would not put her through this recovery. I am not sure if the cheek will be able to fully regrow skin either with how much of the muscle is missing. Having a permanent hole there will be very problematic for eating in the future even if everything else does technically heal.
