What to do if one of a pair passes away (Khaki Campbell)

[chickens really]

Ducks figure things out quickly. A little bit of neck tying and then they follow each other around. Get two more Hens and it will be fine..

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Lorielus any news on your duck?

 

[christylynne11]

Ducks figure things out quickly. A little bit of neck tying and then they follow each other around. Get two more Hens and it will be fine..

I agree. Get 2 hens. Even if you decide to keep your female and treat her, you will have a happier flock.

 

[Lorielus]

Hi @Miss Lydia , quick update:

So she got her xrays and they revealed that it's an infection in one of her vertibrae that's essentially eaten a hole in the bone, so the disk has then become inflammed and pressed on her spine, causing nerve damage.

The vet doesn't seem overly hopeful in her recovering much use of her legs (and she recommends that we put her down if she doesn't), but enough chance to warrant at least an initial week's worth of metacam & tramadol as anti-infammatories, and an antibiotic to get rid of the infection.

Having only done it once so far, I can tell giving three medicines twice a day by oral syringe is not going to be fun for either her or us, but we want to give her every chance.

She is currently under a bush in an area we've fenced off (to keep our broody chickens from pecking at her since they're feeling aggressive) - I think she's pretty high as a kite from the tramadol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully you’ll see improvement soon. And the Tramadol will hopefully keep her resting so she’ll take time to heal. Thanks for updating. Did they show you how to give meds by syringe. I just had to do this to one of my Runners and @casportpony has info that shows how to do it. Sure helped me.

 

[casportpony]

Curiously, what medications were prescribed?I

Here is an article that shows how to give oral medications:

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

 

[Lorielus]

Thanks a lot - yes the vet showed me how to do it, though it's definitely a two-person job as thorough beginners. Getting the beak open was the hardest part - eventually just waited until she tried to bite my finger!

 

[casportpony]

Thanks a lot - yes the vet showed me how to do it, though it's definitely a two-person job as thorough beginners. Getting the beak open was the hardest part - eventually just waited until she tried to bite my finger!

So glad the vet showed you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The vet I went to didn’t but K’s info showed me how and it was great knowing what to do I had given wormer to my chicken via syringe but have never done ducks. I get my husband to hold then I do the rest.

 

[DuckyDonna]

The vet I went to didn’t but K’s info showed me how and it was great knowing what to do I had given wormer to my chicken via syringe but have never done ducks. I get my husband to hold then I do the rest.

I'm having to give one of my girls that has been eggbound a lot lately calcium gluconate with a syringe and tonight I think I have perfected the technique.

I hold her in my lap with a towel wrapped around her to contain her wings. I'm right handed so I hold her close to me. I take my right thumbnail and gently pry her bill open just a bit and then I quickly slide my left thumbnail in on the other side of the bill and that holds it open while I'm giving her the meds. We were done in no time with no struggle at all.