:-(

[nachoqtpie]

So, I went out to trade my 2 mallards for 2 female Pekin ducks. A lot of the people that I know around here have gotten chickens from him and were very happy. So, I thought that I would try him out. I get there and things look okay. He's got all the ducks/chickens/turkeys in the back which is wooded.

Of course Bug writes Phineas and Ferb a cute little letter, telling them that we will miss them and we hope that they have a good life. It was really sweet. So, he takes us towards the back and there is this enclosure that is full of sticks and there are about 20 (or so) ducks and one very small kiddie pool! So, he catches 2 ducks with a large net, and carries them BY THEIR WINGS back to my car and puts them in our crate for transport. I get these 2 disgustingly dirty ducks home, get them in the enclosure, and the smaller of the 2 (which Bug has named Zoey) is not walking very well. I pick her up, and lo and behold big ol sores on the bottom of her feet!!!!!!

I REFUSE to send this bird back to the living conditions that it was in. What can I do??? I'll see if I can get some pictures of her feet. I've got her in the bathtub right now so she can try and get herself clean. Poor thing. :-(

 

[nachoqtpie]

none of them feel like they're puss filled... but I'm really worried about her. :-(

What do I do?

 

[Jared77]

If you can palpate them and they feel firm they are probably filled with scar tissue. If your not getting pus thats a good thing. The best thing you can do right now it to make sure her feet can get dry and not be constantly walking on waste or dirty bedding. Sure they will get wet and thats fine but they need to be able to get dry so they can heal. Ground that isn't dirty bedding or constant mud so the tissue stays soft and keep sloughing off.

Your right to be concerned but I think they'll heal up fine if you can keep them dry unless she's wading/swimming. Then when shes out they should air dry and stay dry.

When its all said and done she may end up with some minor scarring on the bottom of her feet but nothing that you'd notice when observing her normally. Let them scab up, and keep an eye on them for signs of infection. Pain when she walks, swelling, discoloration, drainage, wounds that dont show any signs of improvement, red streaks, pockets of fluid around the injury site are all things to watch for.

I really think she'll be fine given that you haven't seen any infection yet. If left where she was I'm sure they would have only gotten worse. Keep an eye on her and if they are doing fine keep doing what your doing till they are totally healed up. If not say something and we'll address it the best we can for you.

 

[lesa]

Take a minute and look up bumble foot on BYC. I don't know about ducks, but that looks exactly like bumble foot which one of my chickens had. We did surgery on it- and removed it, and she was fine. Hugs to you for rescuing her...

 

[nachoqtpie]

I didn't cut them open or anything... I just squeezed them a bit and they felt firm.

The ground out there is about half grass and half dirt. It's been super hot and dry, so the ground soaks up all the water fairly quickly.

After I put her in the bath and then back outside... she seems to be doing a little better. She's walking a bit more normal.. less limping.

They can get behind the pool and so she's hiding under the little stairs/slide of the pool. I'll leave her alone for a while because they're pretty stressed out right now.

 

[lesa]

Good plan... The problem may have been healed- and won't present anymore symptoms. Fingers crossed! Keep us posted...

 

[Collector]

Did you have to leave your mallards there? I would try to get them back if posibble. Hopefully her feet will heel up and have no further problems.

 

[nachoqtpie]

I did have to leave them. I'm worried sick about them. I know he's selling all his animals, so that just gives me hope that they will go to a good home.

I have someone local coming over today to look at Zoey. I've got to get "surgery supplies" this morning, just in case she thinks it needs it. As long as it helps, I'm all for doing whatever! I'm really glad I found this local group! I LOVE the advice that y'all give, but knowing that it's something out of your area of expertise/comfort and being able to have someone come over to assist.. that makes ya feel good!

Don't worry... I'm not going anywhere.. y'all are still my little family too!! :bouquet

 

[nachoqtpie]

So... after a couple hours of "surgery" we got as much out of her foot as possible, but there was still more in there, but she was in quite a bit of pain so we stopped for the day. We gooped up her foot with antibiotic ointment, put gauze on there, then a triangle piece of cardboard, then wrapped her foot in hot pink vet wrap. I've got her sectioned off with plastic fencing on the inside of the run with 2 pie dishes. 1 with food, 1 with a small amount of water. I put up a 5x8' blue tarp inside the run so they would have more shade than they have now. I threw a couple frozen water bottles in there for her as well. Zoey also has the majority of her little run covered.

While we were doing "surgery" we noticed that both her bill and her feet were warm. I went and got some penicillin from TSC and my sister helped me figure out the dosage for her. (she's 5.5 ponds btw!) Her bill seems a bit pale and appears to be peeling, like a sunburn would. I feel so terrible for this little girl!!

 

[Jared77]

What did you get out of the foot?