Broken legs, wings, punctured lung
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My little flock of 9 ducks was attacked last night. I was awoken from sleep by a thud against the bedroom wall and much crashing and clanging of metal at the northern fence. When I went out in my night dress to see what was happening, I could hear flapping of wings near the fence along with the thuds. I knew something had one of my ducks. As I ran towards the fence, broom handle and torch in hand I saw the silouette of a large dog leaping over the high fence. The dog belongs to our new neighbours and jumped an 8 foot fence to get into my yard. I ran through the yard searching for the ducks, that was when I came across the first body, then two injured ducks, then another body. I put the two injured ducks into an animal carrier for their safety, and searched out the others. Four were huddled in the greenhouse/duckhouse hiding. A fifth was hiding under a shrub up against the front verandah. I eventually coaxed him out and he joined the others in the greenhouse. All were terrified. I thought these 5 were all right until this morning. Morning light revealed further injuries.
The losses:
- Quiet Ducky (Indian Runner drake) and Spot (Indian Runner x Campbell, duck), found dead.
The injuries:
- Big Drake, (Indian Runner, drake) I think has a punctured lung by his wheezing. He has puncture marks to the body and I suspect a broken leg.
- Brown One, (Campbell x Indian Runner, duck) a broken left leg and large puncture wound to the body above and to the back of this leg. It is deep and there has been a lot of bleeding.
I am not sure that either of these two will live. I floated them in the baby bath in a solution of condies crystals to disinfect the wounds. I have them isolated in a large animal carrier for their security and keep water and food close to their bills so that they can eat and drink when they want to. They are taking food and water. I have not been able to find any information on how to treat their broken legs, there seems to be information on wings but not legs.
- Little Baby Birdie, (Khaki Campbell duck) no visible punctures that I could find, but both wings are drooping, one shoulder much lower than the other. I suspect she has 2 broken wings. Gave her a bath in condies crystals and I have been looking at articles on how to strap her wings until they heal. Any help out there?
- Speckles, (Indian Runner x Campbell, duck) initially appeared unhurt, but a friend who came to help me treat the ducks noticed flies gathering about one wing, we suspect a puncture wound. I gave her a bath in condies crystals.
The neighbours are going to buy some plastic skin tomorrow to spray on and seal the wounds from infection. It is Sunday here and no shops open. So I can do little until a chemist is open tomorrow.
The uninjured (Literally, lucky little ducks):
- Charlie the Khaki Campbell drake
- White One, the cross bred Campbell/Indian Runner duck
- Little Drake, an Indian Runner
The vet is 27kms away and knows little about birds. This is an agricultural district and poultry are considered a commodity (food) by most of the population. You don’t call a vet to the Sunday roast. So I’m afraid it’s first aid from me or nothing.
All advice will be greatly appreciated.The birds range from 2 years to 3 years old. All were in good health. Last wormed in May.
I have spoken to the neighbours and the dogs have been locked up. They only moved in 3 days ago and are shattered that this has happened. They were out at the time and were unaware that anything had gone wrong. They have offered all the help they can give from raising the fence higher to replacing the lost ducks. I told them not to worry about replacing the ducks, we will see who survives first. They said they know it is hard to replace a pet, but are happy to replace them later, once I’m over the shock. They are really nice neighbours and neither they nor I had any inkling that anything could get over that fence. I reassured them no matter how we feel about our pets, I consider that good neighbour relations must be more important than ducks or dogs. They feel so bad this has happened.
A friend is going to look after the two badly injured ducks for me on Wednesday and Thursday, as just to top this off, I will be in hospital on Wednesday undergoing a biopsy for possible cancer. When it rains, it pours.
0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago | Last edited 10 months ago -
We have a duck also her name is Pablo, got her when she was a week old from the flea market. My grand daughter bought her for $5.00, she keeps the front yard cleared of insects. I’m sorry to hear about your ducks, dogs should be tied up if they are going to kill other birds or animals. Ellen from Georgia.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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I am so sorry for your trauma and the loss of your beloved ducks. We have survived many dog attacks as well.
If you can’t afford vet care please be careful about deep wounds and sealing them as that can seal up an infection and make it worse for recovery. Setting broken legs can happen with freezer pop sticks and some of that fancy elastic wrap that is flexible – looks like between gauze and a Ace bandage for wrapping sprains. We used it on our goat when she jumped the fence and became stuck. Poor dear. Ducks are pretty resistant creatures. Isolating is a good thing. If it’s not warm where you are a little heat lamp might be useful too.
It’s a great way to start a neighbor friendship under your ethics. Very sweet.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago | Last edited 10 months ago
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I’m so glad that they are taking responsibility for their pet. I hope your ducks are able to survivie.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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Thanks for your concern. I was treating Big Drake’s wounds yesterday afternoon when he went into convulsions and died in my arms. Brown One is resting in the carrier, wrapped in bandages with a dressing over the deep wound. I haven’t sealed this wound because of the chance of infection, just covered it with antiseptic cream covered gauze and bandaged it to keep the flies from getting to it. As she tried to pull the dressing off, I slipped an old stocking over her body to keep it in place. Gave her fresh water this morning and she seems calm enough.
Baby Birdie is too frightened to let me catch her as yet. I didn’t want to chase her as it would create more stress (for both of us!). She is moving about and eating a little. I think she is sore and bruised and doesn’t want to be touched. Speckles is running about quite lively and eating well. I put some condies crystals in the pond so that if they swim it will help disinfect. The three unharmed ones are running about as it nothing had happened, until a loud noise occurs then they all freeze on the spot.I’ll keep you posted.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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I’m so sorry this has happened. I have never heard of dogs jumping an 8 foot fence! It’s good that your neighbors are so concerned and are acting accordingly. My bad neighbor just suggests I shoot his dogs (or offers to shoot them himself) when I’ve complained about his dogs trying to get my chickens through the fence.
I also live quite remotely and find my vets of no help with poultry, which as you say is considered food around here. It sounds like you did the best thing to disinfect the wounds, and know not to cover up deep puncture wounds due to infection risk. I’ve had a couple of chickens with their entire backs ripped off by dogs not only live through it, but regrow skin and feathers! I’ve learned to never give up no matter how bad it looks.
I’ve splinted young chicks legs with great success, and I’ve given mobility therapy to a grown chicken after a stroke that enabled her to eventually walk again. I do know that bird vets can set broken legs but I have not done it myself. If you want to do it yourself, I would be happy to come up with some ideas with you—I’ve rescued and saved all kinds of animals. Right now my computer is dead and I’m having to check my emails once a day at the local library. You are welcome to email me. I’m about to head off to purchase a new computer which I hope to get set up asap. Good luck!
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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So very sorry for your losses and that you have had to deal with all this at all. I applaud your neighbor’s acceptance of responsibility—so often that doesn’t happen.
I do know that some dogs are ‘climbers’ and can get out of any enclosure with enough determination. I’m blessed that my Labrador has no inclination to escape his measly 4 foot fence.
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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My little flock is down to 5 only. Brown One died on Tuesday morning. Little Baby Birdie seems to be recovering. She still holds her wings out from her body a little but I’ve noticed that they are returning to the right position for her shoulders, so hopefully they were just badly bruised and bitten. I suspect she was the one I heard flapping as there are a lot of downy brown feathers near the northern fence. I think she was very lucky to escape with her life. The 5 little ducks now stay close together and seem to feel most safe around their pond and duckhouse. I still keep them in the southern side of the yard as I don’t trust leaving them to roam near the northern fence unattended, and I have been just too sick to spend much time outdoors with them. They can still wander down to the back door and I can observe them closely from there. They have all the southern yard to wander in.
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1 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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We only have one duck right now want to get a couple more, but really need to build a pond or enlarge the small one we have. We have a small fish pond not really big enough for ducks. My granddaughter brought Pablo home from a flea market when she was a week old. Pablo took to the black hen in the front yard as her mother, now the black hen has gone broody and the Pablo sits with her every day. Pablo always walks out to the chicken tractor every morning to visit with the 8 chicks that are living in it. Pablo also keeps the two small dogs company a beagle and a small little dog she sits with them under the tree. Ellen from Georgia
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0 thumbs up!Posted 10 months ago
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