Small puncture wound on duck's bill

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello.
I just went down to fill the ducks' water with warm water since it is so cold out and I saw drops of blood on the ground. My chocolate runner's beak has a small little round wound on the end of it and that appears to be where the blood is from. What should I do and how can I help? Should I put anything on it or anything in the water? It's smaller than the size of a pencil eraser. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[Bochama]

Hello. When I got my duckling the first time it had hurt its beaks somehow. Dont worry too much it will heal eventually depending on how deep the wound is. Just make sure to see what caused the wound so it wont happen again. Also, if it seems infected I recommend contacting the vet. Just wash its bill with saline water gently for disinfecting. Hope that helped.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Hello. When I got my duckling the first time it had hurt its beaks somehow. Dont worry too much it will heal eventually depending on how deep the wound is. Just make sure to see what caused the wound so it wont happen again. Also, if it seems infected I recommend contacting the vet. Just wash its bill with saline water gently for disinfecting. Hope that helped.

Hi.

Thanks for your response. I brought the injured duck and one of her sisters into the basement and put them in a make-shift run/coop with a tarp floor, wood shavings, water, and some wet food in case that is easier for her to eat. The laceration is pretty small. It looks more like a scrape at closer inspection than an actual puncture. I think she just scraped it on the side of the run. Our run is a chain link fence kennel. I thought a night in the warm basement with a buddy and clean area with fresh water would be good. I'm going to do the saline wash and also maybe try to put some cornmeal/flour on it to help with the bleeding. I might have stypic powder from my dog's nails too. I'll keep you posted. I am also going to add some ACV to the water.

 

[Bochama]

Hi.

Thanks for your response. I brought the injured duck and one of her sisters into the basement and put them in a make-shift run/coop with a tarp floor, wood shavings, water, and some wet food in case that is easier for her to eat. The laceration is pretty small. It looks more like a scrape at closer inspection than an actual puncture. I think she just scraped it on the side of the run. Our run is a chain link fence kennel. I thought a night in the warm basement with a buddy and clean area with fresh water would be good. I'm going to do the saline wash and also maybe try to put some cornmeal/flour on it to help with the bleeding. I might have stypic powder from my dog's nails too. I'll keep you posted. I am also going to add some ACV to the water.

That's a good plan. Since the basement is more sanitary it will be easier for the ducky to heal. I am sure she will be fine soon. My duck was healed with a week or two. I hope the duck is eating well. Let me know how it goes.

 

[DuckDuckSook]

That's a good plan. Since the basement is more sanitary it will be easier for the ducky to heal. I am sure she will be fine soon. My duck was healed with a week or two. I hope the duck is eating well. Let me know how it goes.

I've included some photos below:

 

[DuckDuckSook]

I'm hoping it isn't from a predator. We have 4 barn cats on our property that we adopted. They are semi-feral but have lived here with us now for several months. Would they suddenly go after the ducks? I feed the cats very well and they are very spoiled for barn cats. Would they do this just for fun?

 

[DuckDuckSook]

After a closer look, it appears that it is mainly a scrape right on the end. I was able to look inside her beak and it didn't go all the way through. It's not nearly as deep as I had first thought when I first saw it and it was bleeding a lot. It has stopped bleeding entirely now and just looks like a pink scrape. I reapplied antibiotic ointment also. I think she may have scraped it on some of the wire from the chain link kennel we use for the run.

 

[KaleIAm]

My duck also acquired a bill injury, and I took her to the vet. Her's might have been a little worse than your duck's and more in the middle of the bill.

Her vet was not worried and casually told me to keep it clean, and apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment without pain reliever medication twice daily. The vet told me she probably scraped it on her aviary wires putting her bill through to forage. I felt like it took forever to heal, but when I took her back for checkups her vet was pleased with her progress. I think it took about 3-4 months to heal completely and years later I can't see it at all.

I don't know if the same treatment is indicated for your duck.

 

[Bochama]

After a closer look, it appears that it is mainly a scrape right on the end. I was able to look inside her beak and it didn't go all the way through. It's not nearly as deep as I had first thought when I first saw it and it was bleeding a lot. It has stopped bleeding entirely now and just looks like a pink scrape. I reapplied antibiotic ointment also. I think she may have scraped it on some of the wire from the chain link kennel we use for the run.

Aw poor baby. I dont think it's the cats to be honest. They won't attack your duck as long as they are starving. I think it's the wire. It will be fine. It's not too deep. I think you are doing the right treatment. Hopefully it will heal within few weeks. As long as it does not prevent her from eating it will be fine. Keep us updated

 

[DuckDuckSook]

Update on duck bill injury: All is well! It has healed up nicely and you can barely even see it now. I'm so glad it wasn't serious. Gladys is a happy duck. However, it is super cold here now and she's not a huge fan, but other than that, she's doing well. Thanks for all your help everyone.