Pekin Duck Hurt Bill

[MaddyP0607]

Hello all!
I posted on here a couple months ago about one of my ducklings needing help with her eye and it seems like she's gotten into some trouble again! I let them out of their pen earlier this morning and went inside to do some work around the house when I heard her loudly quacking like something was wrong. I raced out there and saw that she was dripping blood from her beak and it looked like she busted her bill on something in the backyard where they are allowed to roam and forage almost all day everyday. We have a chain-link fence that doesn't have many open areas or harsh ends she could get entangled with but the ones that do have the harsh ends they never go near in the back of the yard. We think she may have gotten it cut open on a piece of ice that was laying in the driveway stuck to the ground or on a sharp stick that was on the ground when she was foraging. I seemed to have stopped the bleeding but now she puts her bill into her wings as if she is sleeping, so I don't know if she is trying to nurse it and get it out of the cold weather since we live in Oak Forest, Illinois and the temps are changing. Can anyone possibly give me advice on how to handle this? I'll try to include a picture of the wound, I tried to clean it and stop the bleeding the best I could but she doesn't like when I touch it and just keeps tucking it into her wings and hiding it. Also, does anyone know of any good vets or bird specialists in the area ( Oak Forest, IL) that deal with ducks just incase we end up having to take her to the vet to get the injury checked out? I'd appreciate any help as this has never happened to me before.

 

[Isaac 0]

I think if I were to see that, I'd give the whole bill a good flush with some saline, or just plain sterile water to lavage out any debris/bacteria present on the wound. After doing so, apply a layer of an antibacterial ointment, like Neosporin, or Preparation H, and since it's on the tip she's going to be re-infecting the area via probing around, it may be best to put Hydro-gel bandage over top such as the one below.

Waterfowl have what's called a Bill tip organ, which basically helps them find food easier when digging around, so expect her to be a little sensitive when you touch the area.

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/november/Cousquer/Avian-Wound-Management-Part-2.html

Here are some avian vets in IL if you care to see one :

https://www.metzerfarms.com/Veterinarians.cfm?CustID=27558930

 

[MaddyP0607]

I think if I were to see that, I'd give the whole bill a good flush with some saline, or just plain sterile water to lavage out any debris/bacteria present on the wound. After doing so, apply a layer of an antibacterial ointment, like Neosporin, or Preparation H, and since it's on the tip she's going to be re-infecting the area via probing around, it may be best to put Hydro-gel bandage over top such as the one below.

Waterfowl have what's called a Bill tip organ, which basically helps them find food easier when digging around, so expect her to be a little sensitive when you touch the area.


View attachment 2435334View attachment 2435333
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/november/Cousquer/Avian-Wound-Management-Part-2.html

Here are some avian vets in IL if you care to see one :

https://www.metzerfarms.com/Veterinarians.cfm?CustID=27558930

Thank you so much! I read that some people said super glue but I didn't want to hurt her or use something that could possibly worsen the injury on her since she needs her beak to eat! I'll definitely try this and see if it works.

 

[Isaac 0]

Thank you so much! I read that some people said super glue but I didn't want to hurt her or use something that could possibly worsen the injury on her since she needs her beak to eat! I'll definitely try this and see if it works.

Super glue is ok in some instances, but for such a wide cut, I'd be a little hesitant using it, unless you get super glue intended for wounds (surgical glue). Let us know how she gets along with the injury.