Hi Shelly,

Poor baby duck, that's so terrible! I know it was an accident, but yes, you really need something for them to be able to get out of the pool on. Baby ducks can be so helpless...I don't know how old they are, but if they aren't that old they don't really need a pool right now. Just keep them plenty of water dishes, small buckets for now until they get bigger..

I have never had this happen, but I can share an experience I had once with you and maybe that'll help some..

We had 2 baby muscovy ducks several years ago. They were out in a pen and it started raining. I didn't know it was raining out until I looked outside, so I went to get the babies cause it was raining so hard. I got out there and one of the babies was fine, but the other baby was lying completely on his side and looked dead! I carried him in and my mom ran some warm bath water and put him in it, then she blow-dried him with the hair dryer. Belive it or not he slowly started sitting up and peeping..it was truly a miracle and the same with your ducks--a miracle that they are still alive after 5 long days.

Just keep him warm, maybe even inside your house if you can in a box and put some warm towels,blankets in with him. You could keep him near you at night so you'll hear him and cna check on him during the night.

I sure hope he makes it and you are able to carry him to the vet. Let us know what happens please!

Genny

I wish I knew enough to give you good advice. The only thing I can think of that you don't mention is giving the duck some unflavoured Pedialyte -- it's for sick children, to help keep their electrolytes in balance, but lots of people use it for their poultry. It might help and I doubt it could hurt... but the vet is your best bet.

Hello

Thank you both for your response. Actually, the duck is fully grown. We raised them from little peep ducklings to the size they are now..which is a full grown white peking duck. They are probably 3 months old...which is why we figured they got in the pool and therefore could get out.

I have what I hope is good news. I went up to the farm this morning and at first was discouraged to see him/her laying there very "dried out"..I picked him up and put corn pellet mash up to his beak and he gobbled it up..then followed it w/water and he drank that too. I then poured water w/ a sport bottle over his head and cleaned his one eye up and continued to wet his whole body..as I said, he was all mucky from being in the tub and his fethers dried out w/ the muck on them. Within just a little bit of taking water and food and wetting him down he perked up and pushed himself up. sitting best as he could.

Fed him some more..gave more water..then filled the k iddie pool we have w/ about 4 inches of water and held him in it, bathing him off. His feet pattered a bit instinctively. I think he liked getting wet (plus is over 90 degrees here today )

Put him back in his hutch and he actually sat up and started to put weight on his bad foot.

So, i organzed a few other volunteers including myself and we are going to continue this regime throughout the day every hour or two (minus the kiddie pool which I think we'll only do at the end of the day one more time)

Please keep your fingers crossed...

Any other advice is welcome.

Thank you

That is good news. It sounds as though he is a fighter. Water therapy (supervised swimming the kiddie pool) is good therapy for the injured foot - in moderation, of course. My geese don't have a pool (limited water resources) but when one turns up with a limp I sometimes bring them into the house and let them paddle in the bathtub. They get a bath and I get a shower! LOL. It's a bit of a mess to clean up but nothing is too good for my geese!

Good luck with your duck and plese keep us updated.

HI! I'm glad he's doing better today!

I thought he was a baby, maybe since he's bigger he'll be stronger than a baby normally would and he'll be able to fight this and get better!

That's good that you're putting him in the water and letting him exercise his foot--like Maggie said that's good water therapy ;)

Does he have a name?
Good Luck!!!

Hello

Well, good news today. I was pleasantly surprised when I went up to check on the duck this morning. He/she actually looks like a duck now..not so much like an emaciated seagull as it did earlier. I'd like to think this is a sign that he's better..perhaps it means he is fluffing and preening his feathers .

More notably, he/she is sitting up right and appears to be much more comfortable. He was also frequently helping himself to fresh water and his bowl of corn mash had a good size indentation in it which presumably was made by him eating throughout the night.

He sat up and flapped his wings a couple of times while i was there...which shows some improvement with his bad foot.

HOWEVER...I do detect a wheezing sound which to me sounds like a respitory infection. I know that if I could just get a vet to give me an antibiotic it will do wonders.

I am actually having a hard time finding a vet..it seems the "big animal" vet we use doesn't "do birds"..just treats the cows/sheep and goats.

I called a vet who treats birds but won't treat a farm duck...they referred me to "wild life rescue" who then told me they do'nt treat domestic farm animals...they gave me the name and # of a vet who they said definitely treats ducks but i just called and he's closed until monday. There is one place who said I could bring him in and they would examine the duck but if any treatment was needed they would most likely pass him on to the wildlife rescue...which I just explained is telling me they don't treat domestic farm life.

So..here I am..posting here...and googling "duck antibiotics"....the only info that has come up pertains to raising ducks for human consumption.

I'm going to start a new thread here specifically asking for info on respirtory treatment for ducks...hopefully someone will have some advice.

Thanks again for your replies.

PS> i think we are naming him/her "one eyed willie" ...as one of his eyes is closed more than the other as result of the trauma ...(i'm trying to clear that up too..rinsing it thorughout the day w/ fresh water..and misting his head w/ a spray bottle...)

I have the same problem with a adult magpie duck I have been reading and baytril seems to be what is recommended however it is not working immediately I have also been giving her poultry vit..she has been taken into the house as we have extrememlt cold weather this yr in NJ plus deep snow..Alot of TLC has been added to her care but I hope I dont loose her please give any solutions if you hav them..my email ladyhaflinger@comcast.net thank you sharon rinaldi