jayjay Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Billie has been hurt - what do we do?? OH was out digging today and she got her beak between his spade and the ground. He has split the top of her beak with the spade. There is blood and a gash - what should we do??? Phoned the emergency vet and am waiting for a response. JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Vet which is the correct course of action, hopefully they can help if its not too big trauma etc. Good luck let us know how it goes indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Thanks Indie for prompt response - going mad here. Phoned my vet - he has no experience with ducks. He seems to think that it could just be a split in the skin covering her beak (that's kind of what it looks like) and that if her beak is not severed, broken then just to keep her in bathe her beak in salt water and watch her til tomorrow then re-assess. Does tht sound about right? She has eaten a little and had a drink (confined to quarters) and is now sitting with her beak under her wing (poor wee thing). JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Salt water sounds like a good plan. Most vets keep a surgical glue that they may be able to use if they need to try some sort of repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Sorry JJ no advice I'm afraid, just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you. I know that ours get awfully close when we are digging or chopping wood . I always thought that they were quick enough to .... All the best Do let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Thanks Chucky It's been some day. From joy of eggs to worry and anxiety - pets eh!! Billie has been confined to quarters all day (Daphne has been very unhappy about it - pacing and quacking). I have been spraying her beak with salt water, changed all the water in their run and have been watching constantly. She spent about a couple of hours obviously in pain, beak under wing and shaking her head. It's hard to feel so helpless. After a wee sleep she has picked up and rallied. Her beak has stopped bleeding and started to scab over, on closer inspection it doesn't look as bad as it did when bleeding profusely. She has polished off her dinner and has been quiet friendly when I was out sitting in the run earlier. So I think she will be ok. Poor OH thought he would have to pack up his bag and move on!!! He feels really bad - she saw a worm when he was digging the border and with lightning speed .... Needless to say that won't happen again. Thanks for your thoughts. Will let you know how she is tomorrow. JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hi JJ, that's fantastic that she looks on the mend. Yes Chickens and Ducks sure is a bit of a roller coaster. I usually find that whenever I start thinking that was easy or the introductions went ok, something goes bang. Was going to say as well, DH must feel awful, I know I would. I don't know how you'd make him feel any better. It's obviously a total accident. Maybe some of your pond antics would cheer him up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hi i hope your duck is feeling better in the morning i would be making my oh dig his own grave with the spade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hi i hope your duck is feeling better in the morning i would be making my oh dig his own grave with the spade Ahhh come on, he probably feels gutted enough as it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 It's obviously a total accident. Maybe some of your pond antics would cheer him up Chucky you are wicked!!!! He is more likely to get the Miller 'dig your own grave mate' than the Chucky 'pond antics' today. Accident happened about 2 minutes after I told him to be careful with his spade... Men (exasperated sigh). It's only his obvious dejection and anxiety that is saving him! Thanks for the comment though - the first time I laughed today!! JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I hope it all settles down and mends.......we had a duckling whith a broken bill. we really worried about it but she was able to eat and drink so we left her to see how it went. It eventually grew and she was fine. We had been at a wedding in London when there was a big storm at home. We had a phone call to say that the ducklings had been squashed by a small tree that fell on their run and so we came home. Fingers crossed for your duck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Thanks Lesley Feeling a little more optimistic tonight so fingers crossed she recovers. They certainly know how to put us through the mill don't they. I've had them for only 6 months (and a first time duck mum at that) and I can certainly say there has NEVER been a dull moment. JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I was just looking for the old thread about ours but it seems to have disappeared! No, there are never any dull moments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 This morning's update on Billie Went out to have a good look at her this morning. She was keen to get out into the frosty sunshine. Her beak looks unpleasant (a 3/4" cut across the top) but it's not bothering her. Gave it a nice soaking in salty water - she was not appreciative Decided that she was ok and will survive! She is lively and quacky and even laid an egg for me last night - wee soul. Let her out with Daphne and have asked parents to check on her during the day and change water dishes. I think she has had a lucky escape and husband lives to see another day! JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 That's great news JJ, not least for DH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Hope she's on the mend soon A bit more drastic, but I saw something in the papers last week about a duck who's top beak was damaged, the vets built it up (using some sort of resiny plastic stuff, can't remember what) so that he could eat properly, and he gets on fine with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Glad to hear she's on the mend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Much relief all round. OH has been given evening salt spray duties and dishes ..... every cloud! When I came home from work ducks were back to normal and Billies beak looks even better. Might even be able to sleep tonight. thanks for all your support and advice folks it's really good to have somewhere to run to in an emergency. No duck keepers locally, all my friends, family, neighbours think I'm bonkers! JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 That's good news JJ I can remember how sick we felt when ours had a broken bill and we weren't sure what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 i am realy pleased she is getting better my friends laugh at how attached i am to my little ones cannt imagine how you both must have felt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
