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Duck and Goose First Aid
Emergency first aid:
What to do
if you have found an injured duck:
Catch the
duck or goose
Approach
the bird calmly and quietly and offer it feed.
When you
are close enough – quickly place a towel over the bird gently covering its eyes
and neck. Remember to keep your face away from the bird’s head. Eye protection
is recommended especially for sea ducks.
Wrap the
towel around the carefully around the wings – folding them in their natural
closed position.
Evaluate
the Birds
Check its
temperature by feeling the feet. Warm feet are a good sign – if they are cold
you will need to warm the bird ASAP. Place the bird in a pet carrier with
newspaper or a towel (use an old towel – it will be quickly soiled) Check the bird’s eyes - are they clear and normally dilated? Can it
hold up its head? Check the back of the neck – missing feathers are likely a
sign of over mating (gang rape).
Cold Bird:
Cold birds
should be warmed immediately – a covered heating pad can be used – bring the
bird out of the cold into a warm area if available. Keep a dry towel around/on
the bird until temperature warmers.
Not able to
hold up head:
Keep the
bird quiet and warm and in a pet carrier or other ventilated container away
from other birds and predators. Do not place a deep water container in the
carrier – the bird may drown. If bird does not start to recover within a few
minutes - it will likely need vet care. Do not offer food or it could choke
Bleeding/Wounds
Any wounds
should be cleaned first with water and then with an antiseptic like Povidone Iodine
or hydrogen peroxide. Stop bleeding with
light compression (remember birds have hollow bones) Vet wrap makes a great
bandage and is available at most pet supply stores. Neosporin can be applied to
wounds once bleeding is stopped. Do not wrap limbs tightly – circulation can be
cut off. Limit the bird’s activity until well healed. Keep away from other
birds as other birds may pick on wounds. If the head is swollen by pecking, or
bloody, place cool cloths on the ducks head to cool it off.
Missing
Neck Feathers – Over Mating
Many ducks
are over mated in the spring and summer and lose feathers out of the back of
their neck. Females and males can be badly beaten up unfortunately by
aggressive males in the wild. Domestic ducks can not fly off and are high risk
for injury. Remove the females immediately and keep them separate from all
males until they are healthy enough to return. Monitor breeding and remove if
excessive mating begins again. Do not have many males in an area with a small
number of females – overbreeding will result.
Other First
Aid Info
Eyes can be
flushed with sterile saline solution to clean and clear, no chemicals.
If you have
an eye dropper or clean 1 cc syringe you can try offering a few droppers full
of gator aid to the duck being cautious of it breathing in any fluid.
If the duck
is coherent it can be offered gator aid and dry cat food or lay pellets 30 - 60
minutes after bringing the bird to safety.
Give the
duck time to rest after the drive in the car and don’t drive the bird after
eating as it can aspirate its food or breathe it in.
Take the
bird to your local rehabber or vet asap.
Call your
local shelter for referrals or local avian vet or wildlife rescue group in
your area.
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Defending against Predators
Protection against dogs, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and larger birds.
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