Injured duck

Michelle D

I have a jumbo pekin that is about 3 months old. She injured he back end somehow yesterday. I can't figure out how she did it. She was fine when I was out with her in the morning. A couple of hours later my son went out to refresh the waterer and she was all bloody. The only thing I can think of is that maybe one of the chickens attacked her for some reason. I have her isolated right now hoping to help her recover. She isn't being very active and will not eat. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

shllnzl

My sympathies are with you as I always want to help an animal in need. I'm not familiar with ducks, but have parrot experience. My guess is the chickens or a predator attacked her.

First off, I would suggest you try to keep her warmer than normal to counteract shock.

I would try to get a little water into her mouth, maybe with an eye dropper.

Mother parrots regurgitate food for their young, I don't know if ducks do the same. At any rate, mashed up food might help her at this time.

Good luck.

LaurieLovesLearning

@Michelle D Im sorry that I came across this so late.

I agree that it is either chickens or a predator. Sometimes ducks will attack each other, but maliciousness is often between drakes, not hen to hrn or drake to hen.

Isolation is the first thing you do. 🙂

What is the damage like? Pulled feathers, scratches, puncture wounds, deep sores? Could you post a picture of the injury?

Some electrolytes will help with any shock. Washing the wounds with clean warm water is good, followed by applying honey to the wounds. Try your best to keep these areas clean & reapply the honey when needed.

Keep the duck in a reasonably warm & clean isolated place, but not too warm if it's been out in the cold and you need go put it back out later.

We had both a chickens & ducks attacked by others. Sometimes it was competition. In two our worst cases where death looked imminent, we were able to save them. This wasn't always the case, as some others in similar situations did die. However, we did as I described above and kept feed & water within easy reach.

Our big incidents happened in summer, so I gave the victim sun with some shade in the heat of the day. The sun was good in my opinion. Often things in shock get cold and if they aren't moving in winter, can get too cold or freeze.

I'm wondering if she may have had a prolapse? If anything red and inflamed had been sticking out her back end, that is an open invitation to chickens to peck at.

Keep us updated!

Michelle D

The injury is pulled feathers and punctures. We have her in a small run alone. We packed straw around the edges of the place where she was sitting. I'm thinking that will keep her warm enough without to much shock when she goes back out with the main flock. I didn't think to put honey on it. I should have thought of that.

She improved a bit overnight last night. She was up and moving around when I went to let the flock out this morning. She met me at the door to her run when I brought out feed. She did eat but not as much as I had hoped.

VermontCathy

I hope she will recover. It must be frustrating to have that kind of injury without really knowing why or being able to prevent it.

Michelle D

Well, she didn't make it. If I had to guess I would say it was probably an infection. She had seemed to be recovering but when I came home from running an errand she had passed. I'm trying to look at it as a learning experience and take what I can from it.

LaurieLovesLearning

I'm so sorry to hear that. Six days...very likely an infection. These things do happen, but knowing that doesn't make it any easier.

I've heard this happening with people, seemingly getting better before death, and most likely have experienced it with animals, but right now can't recall any of those moments. I guess a person moves on.

These are very good learning experiences and each event like this gives us more tools for the next time, and hopefully we will see a positive outcome using our new knowledge.