Serrogateduckmom
In the Brooder
- Sep 21, 2024
- 23
- 34
- 46
Hello again, this won’t be the last you see/read from me- I am a major worry wart, and I am also doing everything wrong, I’m going to just keep it real with you guys, and tell you the truth so I may receive the most thorough and honest advice possible to save my little single duckling. Don’t be scared to shoot it to me straight, I can take it…
I have a Rouen Duckling that was stepped on by mom while hatching 9/21/24. I live in a tent in my parents yard (long story-car accident-broken legs-mean dog I don’t want to castaway to living outdoors alone etc) and I have access to power and a cargo trailer. Initially I had tried to care for the duckling in the cargo trailer with a light but I could not keep it warm enough, so I transferred it inside and on 9/25 it began choking on its food. I panicked and don’t ask me why but I put my mouth over his beak and nares and I blew in then I sucked in and squeezed him, he began throwing up …
-definitely a potential air-sack injury situation-
and I freaked the f out. I was so upset idk what I was thinking. I freaked out so bad my drunk off his ass -dad- called the police on me. I have a warrant for a Misdemeanor from 2021/missed court date, and with the baby duck and my dog (whom my dad cannot feed due to his age) and my mom and nephew being 3500 miles away taking care of my moms hospice aunt, I knew I couldn’t go to jail not even for a day or two (this happened on a Friday of course-so I would have potentially been sitting up to five days before seeing a judge and getting OR’ed). So I hobbled out on foot and came back at 4:45 am grabbed my dog, my duckling -who thankfully was still alive- and I left for a hotel for the weekend.
In the hotel I was able to keep the duck the right temperature, but I thought immediately the baby duck would enjoy the warm bath water. He loved it, and jumped right in being only days old. I did promptly dry him using a towel and some hot blow dryer at a distance once he was wrapped in the towel.
Returning back to my place I had what I thought was all I needed for his care. I had a rabbit cage and I put fresh clean pine shavings, a waterer with auto refill, the appropriate food with the correct supplemental niacin and vitamins he needs. A stuffie and a mirror if he gets bored since he is alone from time to time, but since I am injured I am able to stay with him most always anyways.
There was a leak in his waterer and it was only there for like a day because the following morning I switched pens, emptied the shavings and stuffies and snuggle blanket into seperate bags and gave him new shavings. The wet shavings sat on the stuffier for a couple days in a black bag in 90 degree heat and direct sunshine. I was not thinking about the possibility of contamination or asperillagus growing on the stuffie, so when I found it this morning early and he seemed lonely and it seemed dry, I popped it back into his pen.
I’m not sure that he has asperillagus but the scenario seems perfect for that type of growth to occur. (Kicking myself big time)
I’ve moved him into my restroom in my parents home since it is much warmer than my cargo trailer and Or tent.
He has a heat lamp and dry paper towel in a cardboard box, because it’s 1:32 am and I cannot disinfect his regular cage etc at this time without making my dad think I am on crack and have him call the police again on me or something.
I’ve given him water and just sat with him watching to prevent him from trying to swim in it. He has food and He has an appetite. Always. He is now unable to stand on one foot and scratch his head with his nails like he used to be able to do. He loses his balance and can only do it while laying. He had been sneezing a couple days ago but as of today I haven’t heard much sneezing. He is all the sudden way less chirpier, a bit more hesitant to be held and it sounds like he is wheezing when breathing when he is right up close to my face pressing his body against my ear neck and cheek I can hear it best. He feels HOT to the touch, on his skin/legs and underbelly.
It was quite warm today so I let him swim in my ice cold kiddie pool-also just learning that was a terrible idea. I just started doing too much with him too early. He has been eating tons of flies and other little bugs like ants etc. his poop seems a little watery and like it has white coloring in it. His breathing makes his whole body move up and down. He cleans himself religiously and responds alert eyed when I chirp to him.
He keeps stretching out one leg behind him while laying down.
And he pecks and taps his beak A LOT on stuff the way the adults dig thru the dirt to eat slugs when I pour out their swimming pools. Although I think that’s fairly normal right?
I will post some videos on YouTube and edit this post with the link to them I just want to post this part immediately for help ASAP.
I know I probably need a bit of admonishment and I’ll accept that. I just want him to live.
I have a Rouen Duckling that was stepped on by mom while hatching 9/21/24. I live in a tent in my parents yard (long story-car accident-broken legs-mean dog I don’t want to castaway to living outdoors alone etc) and I have access to power and a cargo trailer. Initially I had tried to care for the duckling in the cargo trailer with a light but I could not keep it warm enough, so I transferred it inside and on 9/25 it began choking on its food. I panicked and don’t ask me why but I put my mouth over his beak and nares and I blew in then I sucked in and squeezed him, he began throwing up …
-definitely a potential air-sack injury situation-
and I freaked the f out. I was so upset idk what I was thinking. I freaked out so bad my drunk off his ass -dad- called the police on me. I have a warrant for a Misdemeanor from 2021/missed court date, and with the baby duck and my dog (whom my dad cannot feed due to his age) and my mom and nephew being 3500 miles away taking care of my moms hospice aunt, I knew I couldn’t go to jail not even for a day or two (this happened on a Friday of course-so I would have potentially been sitting up to five days before seeing a judge and getting OR’ed). So I hobbled out on foot and came back at 4:45 am grabbed my dog, my duckling -who thankfully was still alive- and I left for a hotel for the weekend.
In the hotel I was able to keep the duck the right temperature, but I thought immediately the baby duck would enjoy the warm bath water. He loved it, and jumped right in being only days old. I did promptly dry him using a towel and some hot blow dryer at a distance once he was wrapped in the towel.
Returning back to my place I had what I thought was all I needed for his care. I had a rabbit cage and I put fresh clean pine shavings, a waterer with auto refill, the appropriate food with the correct supplemental niacin and vitamins he needs. A stuffie and a mirror if he gets bored since he is alone from time to time, but since I am injured I am able to stay with him most always anyways.
There was a leak in his waterer and it was only there for like a day because the following morning I switched pens, emptied the shavings and stuffies and snuggle blanket into seperate bags and gave him new shavings. The wet shavings sat on the stuffier for a couple days in a black bag in 90 degree heat and direct sunshine. I was not thinking about the possibility of contamination or asperillagus growing on the stuffie, so when I found it this morning early and he seemed lonely and it seemed dry, I popped it back into his pen.
I’m not sure that he has asperillagus but the scenario seems perfect for that type of growth to occur. (Kicking myself big time)
I’ve moved him into my restroom in my parents home since it is much warmer than my cargo trailer and Or tent.
He has a heat lamp and dry paper towel in a cardboard box, because it’s 1:32 am and I cannot disinfect his regular cage etc at this time without making my dad think I am on crack and have him call the police again on me or something.
I’ve given him water and just sat with him watching to prevent him from trying to swim in it. He has food and He has an appetite. Always. He is now unable to stand on one foot and scratch his head with his nails like he used to be able to do. He loses his balance and can only do it while laying. He had been sneezing a couple days ago but as of today I haven’t heard much sneezing. He is all the sudden way less chirpier, a bit more hesitant to be held and it sounds like he is wheezing when breathing when he is right up close to my face pressing his body against my ear neck and cheek I can hear it best. He feels HOT to the touch, on his skin/legs and underbelly.
It was quite warm today so I let him swim in my ice cold kiddie pool-also just learning that was a terrible idea. I just started doing too much with him too early. He has been eating tons of flies and other little bugs like ants etc. his poop seems a little watery and like it has white coloring in it. His breathing makes his whole body move up and down. He cleans himself religiously and responds alert eyed when I chirp to him.
He keeps stretching out one leg behind him while laying down.
And he pecks and taps his beak A LOT on stuff the way the adults dig thru the dirt to eat slugs when I pour out their swimming pools. Although I think that’s fairly normal right?
I will post some videos on YouTube and edit this post with the link to them I just want to post this part immediately for help ASAP.
I know I probably need a bit of admonishment and I’ll accept that. I just want him to live.
