Duck Bad Luck
May 28th 2007 03:17
Honestly man, I dont know whats going on here. Kman says with his highly developed gypsy sense that its because the ducks have had such good luck, that they were 'due' for some bad luck. Im sorry but I dont see how such beautiful innocent animals are ever 'due' for bad luck. Honestly ducks never wish ANYONE any harm or ill. They paddle and waddle through life with permanent smiles on their faces.
Ive posted on my poor Poshe, who died last Tuesday. Tomorrow it will be a week and Im healing already just because I can hear his voice about the pen and even though to me it was utterly senseless, I know he's alright. But Saturday.....
Saturday morning I went out with mum to feed. In an old post 'a few little miracles' I told the story of how we rescued Talli and Gwen from the wild, we've now had them five years and they are the most beautiful black ducks Ive ever seen. Gwen couldnt swim, Talli couldnt fly. We reakoned between the two of them, they made one duck. Well, Gwen just learned to swim and Talli learned to fly. Oh, how she loved it! Zooming around the pen quaking like a madgirl. Well, Sat morn I find her fluffed up in a corner....Like Poshe! No, No! I go over to her thinking, my God, its some dread disease, theyre all going to die! Talli has always been excessively tame, she used to cuddle but as she got older would permit the odd pat but no more cuddles. I knew something was very wrong when I just walked up and picked her up. Same as Poshe - no evidence of disease. Thoroughly puzzled I put her down again and then I saw it. Her left wing was hanging down. So I pick her up again and Oh man, the one fragile bone that holds wing to body is snapped in two and hanging out of her in a bloody gory mess. The only thing holding the wing on is a bit of feather and tendon. I dont sense pain or agony, birds dont tend to feel pain like humans do. All I can sense is a deep misery and distress - "Please help me mum - Somethings wrong!" Its ironic too because that night I was so worried I went and checked them at about midnight worried about foxes and they were both swimming in the pond quaking at the moon, below freezing temperature notwithstanding!
So we ring the nearest vet. He doesnt normally do birds but says hey, bring her down I'll have a look. Talli is incredibly good, letting me put her in a box and take her down, I explain everything to her as I go along and she listens intently. The second we get her out of the box the vet nurse exclaims "Oh! Isnt she beautiful!" and theyre expecting flapping panic and are very surprised when she settles calmly into my lap. We talk to each other while we wait for the vet - "Wooop--oop oo" and when the vet comes in he says, "Oh, its a wild bird" and with my arms around the very affectionate Talli I explain, no, shes not actually wild! I know she looks it but shes not!
It takes a minute for him to find the break and he, too, exclaims over her extreme beauty. As far as black ducks go, shes a super model! He asks how much we want to spend and I could hug him, because we love her, but we're not millionares. He says he could refer us to a bird specialist, but that would cost well over $1200. We meekly tell him thats out of the question. Since hes not usually a bird vet mum and I suspect he's going to want to amputate. He examines her a little more and decides he'll give it a go, she's definitely going to need surgery. He says what Ive been telling mum all morning, that birds have awesome healing capabilities, he'll strap it up, clean it, and see how we go. I tell him that the wild species we've rescued are incredibly hardy, and tend to heal at least 50% faster than domestic breeds, which he finds interesting. He says she'll need anesthetic and we'll have to sign consent forms and leave her there for the day and pick her up that afternoon. Trembling I hand over my poor struggling duck and stumble out. The estimate is about $200 and he's cut cost where ever he could bless him. I tell the vet nurse I'll come and volunteer, and she says they actually need trainees. I lurch in revulsion - me in an animal hospital? I dont think so! She says an 'animal handling certificate 2' is needed, then you can go into vet nurse traineeship.
Im going to ring the local TAFE (where I actually did my horse certificates) and if I can get recognition of prior learning for cert 2 and go straight into traineeship, I might do it. I cant afford to do a year of certificate2 without pay so we'll see how it goes.
We pick up Talli that afternoon and he had to put a pin in her wing to put it back together. She needs to go back 3 times this week, to remove drainage shunts, for stitches out and for infection checkups. Shes on 8 drops of antibiotic a day, and its not the easy way in the water its the hard way force it down her throat method. One side is completely strapped up in bandages and medical tape and she has to be confined for the next 10 weeks - no flapping allowed! For the first night we brought Gwen inside just so Talli and Gwen could have a chat and know everything was ok. It was a busy laundry, with Talli, Gwen and Wist all quaking and peeping! I was going to put up a picture of her but shes so miserable I just couldnt do it! She's doing well and Im glad shes tame enough to know we're trying to help. The future weeks are going to be hard as she starts to feel well and wants out but we'll cope. I believe she'll heal within 6 to 8 weeks instead of the vets estimate of 8 to 10, wild breeds are so much more resilient. He doesnt think she'll fly again because the pin will throw her off balance but I think she will. She's tough and determined and shes got us behind her. Nothing will stop her!
Duck bad luck number two - Sunday morning I was helping Kman organise the back deck. I must have gone past Poshe's Grave about a hundred times but I didnt notice for ages - something tried to dig him up! Its a complete mystery because he's buried right under the awning, no fox would come so close to the house, no dog could get in without mums dogs making an absolute racket and the hole was neat and tidy. We all know dogs and foxes dig and spray dirt for miles, mum and I think maybe rats? It looked like a rabbit hole, but why would a rabbitt dig for death? Its bizarre. I put a huge concrete pot over it thats so heavy I can barely move it. That should sort that out. Bloody traumatizing!
Now for Wistiful!
This is Wistiful Wyrm at one week. Get ready for the shock of your life....
Dont you think thats amazing? Im worried about her because she appears to be severly 'pigeon toed' both legs are skewed inwards and she(he?) waddles a bit strangely, but we will accomodate! We dont mind if she waddles funny, we'll work it out so her quality of life isnt diminished. Im also worried because excess of protien at certain growth stages can predispose heart attacks. Poshe was the first baby we raised on horse 'Breeda' pellets and Im worried they killed him. Wist has been raised on the exact same food. Mum wants to change to chicken crumbles now but really its too late, if theres damage to be done its well and truly done! All we can do is watch and wait.
What Im hoping? Im hoping that the Wistiful Wyrm is actually a drake. Then Talli and Gwen can become mums and we'll have more ducks than you can poke a stick at!
Wouldnt that be lovely?
Ive posted on my poor Poshe, who died last Tuesday. Tomorrow it will be a week and Im healing already just because I can hear his voice about the pen and even though to me it was utterly senseless, I know he's alright. But Saturday.....
Saturday morning I went out with mum to feed. In an old post 'a few little miracles' I told the story of how we rescued Talli and Gwen from the wild, we've now had them five years and they are the most beautiful black ducks Ive ever seen. Gwen couldnt swim, Talli couldnt fly. We reakoned between the two of them, they made one duck. Well, Gwen just learned to swim and Talli learned to fly. Oh, how she loved it! Zooming around the pen quaking like a madgirl. Well, Sat morn I find her fluffed up in a corner....Like Poshe! No, No! I go over to her thinking, my God, its some dread disease, theyre all going to die! Talli has always been excessively tame, she used to cuddle but as she got older would permit the odd pat but no more cuddles. I knew something was very wrong when I just walked up and picked her up. Same as Poshe - no evidence of disease. Thoroughly puzzled I put her down again and then I saw it. Her left wing was hanging down. So I pick her up again and Oh man, the one fragile bone that holds wing to body is snapped in two and hanging out of her in a bloody gory mess. The only thing holding the wing on is a bit of feather and tendon. I dont sense pain or agony, birds dont tend to feel pain like humans do. All I can sense is a deep misery and distress - "Please help me mum - Somethings wrong!" Its ironic too because that night I was so worried I went and checked them at about midnight worried about foxes and they were both swimming in the pond quaking at the moon, below freezing temperature notwithstanding!
So we ring the nearest vet. He doesnt normally do birds but says hey, bring her down I'll have a look. Talli is incredibly good, letting me put her in a box and take her down, I explain everything to her as I go along and she listens intently. The second we get her out of the box the vet nurse exclaims "Oh! Isnt she beautiful!" and theyre expecting flapping panic and are very surprised when she settles calmly into my lap. We talk to each other while we wait for the vet - "Wooop--oop oo" and when the vet comes in he says, "Oh, its a wild bird" and with my arms around the very affectionate Talli I explain, no, shes not actually wild! I know she looks it but shes not!
It takes a minute for him to find the break and he, too, exclaims over her extreme beauty. As far as black ducks go, shes a super model! He asks how much we want to spend and I could hug him, because we love her, but we're not millionares. He says he could refer us to a bird specialist, but that would cost well over $1200. We meekly tell him thats out of the question. Since hes not usually a bird vet mum and I suspect he's going to want to amputate. He examines her a little more and decides he'll give it a go, she's definitely going to need surgery. He says what Ive been telling mum all morning, that birds have awesome healing capabilities, he'll strap it up, clean it, and see how we go. I tell him that the wild species we've rescued are incredibly hardy, and tend to heal at least 50% faster than domestic breeds, which he finds interesting. He says she'll need anesthetic and we'll have to sign consent forms and leave her there for the day and pick her up that afternoon. Trembling I hand over my poor struggling duck and stumble out. The estimate is about $200 and he's cut cost where ever he could bless him. I tell the vet nurse I'll come and volunteer, and she says they actually need trainees. I lurch in revulsion - me in an animal hospital? I dont think so! She says an 'animal handling certificate 2' is needed, then you can go into vet nurse traineeship.
Im going to ring the local TAFE (where I actually did my horse certificates) and if I can get recognition of prior learning for cert 2 and go straight into traineeship, I might do it. I cant afford to do a year of certificate2 without pay so we'll see how it goes.
We pick up Talli that afternoon and he had to put a pin in her wing to put it back together. She needs to go back 3 times this week, to remove drainage shunts, for stitches out and for infection checkups. Shes on 8 drops of antibiotic a day, and its not the easy way in the water its the hard way force it down her throat method. One side is completely strapped up in bandages and medical tape and she has to be confined for the next 10 weeks - no flapping allowed! For the first night we brought Gwen inside just so Talli and Gwen could have a chat and know everything was ok. It was a busy laundry, with Talli, Gwen and Wist all quaking and peeping! I was going to put up a picture of her but shes so miserable I just couldnt do it! She's doing well and Im glad shes tame enough to know we're trying to help. The future weeks are going to be hard as she starts to feel well and wants out but we'll cope. I believe she'll heal within 6 to 8 weeks instead of the vets estimate of 8 to 10, wild breeds are so much more resilient. He doesnt think she'll fly again because the pin will throw her off balance but I think she will. She's tough and determined and shes got us behind her. Nothing will stop her!
Duck bad luck number two - Sunday morning I was helping Kman organise the back deck. I must have gone past Poshe's Grave about a hundred times but I didnt notice for ages - something tried to dig him up! Its a complete mystery because he's buried right under the awning, no fox would come so close to the house, no dog could get in without mums dogs making an absolute racket and the hole was neat and tidy. We all know dogs and foxes dig and spray dirt for miles, mum and I think maybe rats? It looked like a rabbit hole, but why would a rabbitt dig for death? Its bizarre. I put a huge concrete pot over it thats so heavy I can barely move it. That should sort that out. Bloody traumatizing!
Now for Wistiful!
Wist at one week old
This is Wistiful Wyrm at one week. Get ready for the shock of your life....
Wistiful at approx one month
Dont you think thats amazing? Im worried about her because she appears to be severly 'pigeon toed' both legs are skewed inwards and she(he?) waddles a bit strangely, but we will accomodate! We dont mind if she waddles funny, we'll work it out so her quality of life isnt diminished. Im also worried because excess of protien at certain growth stages can predispose heart attacks. Poshe was the first baby we raised on horse 'Breeda' pellets and Im worried they killed him. Wist has been raised on the exact same food. Mum wants to change to chicken crumbles now but really its too late, if theres damage to be done its well and truly done! All we can do is watch and wait.
What Im hoping? Im hoping that the Wistiful Wyrm is actually a drake. Then Talli and Gwen can become mums and we'll have more ducks than you can poke a stick at!
Wouldnt that be lovely?
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Comment by Wendi
I'm sorry she's hurt, but it's good you were able to get her the help she needed in time, and that you found a vet with a heart.
I think working in an animal hospital would be the perfect place for you!! What better place to use your gifts, Kleo?? *winks*
W
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
The vet is brilliant. Suddenly last nigt looking at the gore as we tried to remove the drainage shunt I remembered vividly why I dont want to work in an animal hospital....
I found one blood drop. I think she was doing a turn to do a heroic flying pond entry, miscalculated, and caught her wing on the roof corner.
Lovely to see you....