Ducks Losses - Coyote

[lesa]

Still hoping and praying for the best...

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I'm about 90% sure a coyote has been picking off my ducks on the pond. By Saturday I had lost 2 ducks and couldn't find any trace of them and was pretty unsure of what was going on.

I'm stuck right now, my neighbor thought she saw a coyote in broad daylight out wondering the pond. She was 100% it wasn't a dog and I tend to agree now. Its definitely a BOLD coyote and it came up to my house and snatched a 3rd duck that was sitting under my deck on a nest. But the darn girl fought for her life and got away!

I found her under a bush missing most of her neck... looks like he got away with all the skin for 2 inches above her body all the way to base of her neck. Took a good amount of muscle too because I can see her organs, which are all there and in tact. I have her neck wrapped with a sock with vaseline and neosporin until I can get some blukot and retreat her. She'll stand up and walk but she's stressing badly to move her head. If I bring her water and food she'll eat a tiny bit, but she'll drink good.

Really, I'm just looking for any advice. Whether or not I take it I can't promise.

I have a feeling someone is going to say put her down, but she's been my absolute favorite little buddy for over 3 years. I just can't bring myself to do that right yet because she fought so danged hard to live. I feel I need to respect that to a point and show her I'm proud of her and I'll fight for her if that's what she wants.

Secondly, I want to know if those danged solar night eyes work? I want to set something up to keep the coyotes away. If I catch it, that's the end of it. But obviously I haven't been vigilant enough and haven't caught it in the act to take care of the situation.

So thanks for your time and advice, I'm a little worn out and emotionally drained right now... so forgive me!

I am so sorry, they are so bad here this year too. I posted back in the spring because we are pretty sure they killed one of our dogs, we never found him and I know that they attacked our huge german sheppard. She was too big for them to take down but they roughed her up a bit. They were coming up into our front yard trying to get her to come out but we had penned her up to heal. My husband went out and they ran off but they are still out in the woods at night. Daisy, our dogs goes out with me every night to put the chickens away, she normally will run around the field and into the woods just to chase... everything. Now through she will sometimes just still by the gate and wait for me to go in and lock up the chickens and then come back out. She just stares at the tree line and I know that the coyotes are right there wanting a chicken dinner.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Coyotes are extremely brazen. When we lived in California, I watched one come and nab my neighbors West Highland Terrier at 2 in the afternoon, not 10 feet from where we were standing. I see them all the time here, worrying the cows to get at their calves out on the range. My 2 LGD's have kept them away from our place since they got here 2 years ago. I hope your duck recovers. When the vet used to send me horses for long term care needing pressure bandages and such for large areas of missing skin, we used to slather it with nitrofurazone. It's a topical antibacterial cream. I don't know if it would be as safe for a duck, but I've used it on myself, my dogs and other animals too. Good luck!

 

[desertlady]

Vfem, Hows your ducky today ?

 

[vfem]

Well Hubby got up this morning and gave her water and some food before work. I have to go out shortly and redress her and get her fresh water with antibiotics in it again. My issue is that fly larva, I've cleaned it out 3 times yesterday and they were still there. I'm getting thousands off of her at a time. Keeping her clean is becoming impossible, and my hopes are fading. I am slathering on the SWAT so I don't know if these are fresh or just eggs that are hatching that go to her a couple of days ago when I found her under the bush. Which is what I am thinking is happening.

We had a trap set last night over by the trail to the wood near the pond, threw some chicken feet and necks out in it from the freezer. Good thing I processed all those meat birds the other week and had all those spare pieces. This is a better use then the stock if it catches me a predator.

Sad news though, I moved my new silkie rooster over into the silkie pen a couple of days ago. He was doing great, then yesterday I found him dehydrated and the girls had him backed into the coop and wouldn't let him out into the run to get water. So I was nursing him last night. After some water and a few grapes he seemed to be doing better, but when I got up this morning her had died.

I told my husband I'm taking a break with the animals for now. I think I'll even be selling some of my silkies for the time being. Between caring for Lily and our bad luck I need to wait until things settle down and she's closer to recover to see I can handle any more animals right now. If I wasn't so over taken with my time over the duck, I may have noticed what was going on in the silkie pen and been able to get him care sooner. I obviously have taken on more then I can handle alone, and no one else here really helps with the animals so I have to make this decision myself.

 

[desertlady]

oh thats tough with the chickies, few weeks ago I thought I was losing mine, they were all paralyzed ! One was acting like she was dying. I suspected bad feed. so I threw it away. The next day they were getting better except for one. she couldnt move and was about to die. She would not eat or drink. I was hoping she would go. But the next few days she was still hanging there and couldnt walk. I gave her canteloupe. about 5 days later she was perking up and slowing got back on her feet. she is now walking !! Its tough raising farm animals !!

 

[catjac1975]

I have never heard of such a thing. They all survived?

oh thats tough with the chickies, few weeks ago I thought I was losing mine, they were all paralyzed ! One was acting like she was dying. I suspected bad feed. so I threw it away. The next day they were getting better except for one. she couldnt move and was about to die. She would not eat or drink. I was hoping she would go. But the next few days she was still hanging there and couldnt walk. I gave her canteloupe. about 5 days later she was perking up and slowing got back on her feet. she is now walking !! Its tough raising farm animals !!

 

[vfem]

I have never heard of such a thing. They all survived?

oh thats tough with the chickies, few weeks ago I thought I was losing mine, they were all paralyzed ! One was acting like she was dying. I suspected bad feed. so I threw it away. The next day they were getting better except for one. she couldnt move and was about to die. She would not eat or drink. I was hoping she would go. But the next few days she was still hanging there and couldnt walk. I gave her canteloupe. about 5 days later she was perking up and slowing got back on her feet. she is now walking !! Its tough raising farm animals !!

I have heard it can be caused by mold spores. Sounds like their immune systems were strong enough to pass the poison through their systems, purge and recovery. You're very lucky!

 

[desertlady]

Yes it was quick thinking, because they act up when I got home from work! Thats whats my first thought because I pour the other half bag in bucket, and I thought it smell a little funky. When I got home 9 hours later they were all acting sick and drunk ! I looked up online and says most can survived that after 36 hours. They were very weak and wobbly ! except one was about to die. I went got different feed and spoiled them with canteloupe and watermelon because they didnt want to eat and drink ! Im so lucky they lived. By the way, I have mice problems out here, and wonder if they got infected by them..

 

[vfem]

Lily after I dressed her today.

She is acting so much better. She even tried to walk past me out of the pen, and will move her neck now up and down which she wouldn't do before. I found a few larva on her again, washed them off... but I think 1-2 more washes and that problem will be taken care of. Her neck has stayed moist and looks so much better. I'm having a slight moment of relief that we're moving forward.

She also took one bite of the dry layer pellet I offered her, but refused the fermented mush I've been offering her for the last few days. One step at a time...