Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
a visiting female mallard interupts our morning routine
We had a female mallard fly in to visit the duckies this morning.
Keelyn was doing her loud, "come over here everybody" quack while the other girls were preening from their first bath, and the boys were outside the aviary foraging. (Our normal morning routine while Keelyn is on the mend.) Beau tried twice to walk through the aviary fencing confussed and upset about something. It wasn't until then that I noticed her flying over. She circled then landed in the yard between the aviary and the garden. She seemed to be interested in pool and food.
It was so funny; as soon as this young female landed she started walking over caustiously. Darrick was the only on willing to go out and "greet" her. He was so excited to see this other girlie duckie. However, Darrick is not very good at flirting and our visitor was not impressed. I guess she doesn't appreciate being chased. Darrick cracked me up. He ran over to her, chased her, gave up, came back over and bragged at bit to the other boys, then did that again a few times.
Our visting female came over a foraged a bit with the boys where the pools had over flowed outside the aviary. She seemed to be looking for a way to get to the pool, but settled for a little digging around for goodies in the dirt with the boys (not too close mind you).
Then Darrick tried the run around and chase her yet another time. She had enough of that and fly away.
It was a very enjoyable thing to watch.
I personally have concerns about the wild ducks getting used to sharing with our pet ducks. But if Darrick continues "greet" all vistors by running about wildly chasing them, we may have no reason to be concerned.
Keelyn was doing her loud, "come over here everybody" quack while the other girls were preening from their first bath, and the boys were outside the aviary foraging. (Our normal morning routine while Keelyn is on the mend.) Beau tried twice to walk through the aviary fencing confussed and upset about something. It wasn't until then that I noticed her flying over. She circled then landed in the yard between the aviary and the garden. She seemed to be interested in pool and food.
It was so funny; as soon as this young female landed she started walking over caustiously. Darrick was the only on willing to go out and "greet" her. He was so excited to see this other girlie duckie. However, Darrick is not very good at flirting and our visitor was not impressed. I guess she doesn't appreciate being chased. Darrick cracked me up. He ran over to her, chased her, gave up, came back over and bragged at bit to the other boys, then did that again a few times.
Our visting female came over a foraged a bit with the boys where the pools had over flowed outside the aviary. She seemed to be looking for a way to get to the pool, but settled for a little digging around for goodies in the dirt with the boys (not too close mind you).
Then Darrick tried the run around and chase her yet another time. She had enough of that and fly away.
It was a very enjoyable thing to watch.
I personally have concerns about the wild ducks getting used to sharing with our pet ducks. But if Darrick continues "greet" all vistors by running about wildly chasing them, we may have no reason to be concerned.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
movie from last Sat 6/6/11
This is a "movie" from last Saturday June 6.
MamaDuck dialed in to webchat and GrMaDuck and our six pet duckies all spent the morning together.
MamaDuck dialed in to webchat and GrMaDuck and our six pet duckies all spent the morning together.
2011-06-11 cooling off
GrMaDuck's Saturday Morning Report
GrMaDuck here ...
I spent all morning in the aviary, as is typical for a Saturday. I moved and rearranged Keelyn's "playpen" out from the center of the aviary. I used the flower border fencing we have been using but split it up into three smaller areas. (We will post pictures later.) The boredom and separation really gets to her. I, GrMaDuck, hope that having a few different SMALL areas to be in will discourage attempts to walk (we need those legs to heal) but will also help with the boredom and maybe the flock will spend a bit more time with her. The primary spot is near the human chairs, where the rest of the flock likes to nap in the afternoon, on the side of the aviary that gets the most shade. I am hoping this will help keep her cool on these very hot days.
I love to be out with the flock, even when I am sweating while cleaning out pools, carriers, house, etc. They were such a happy flock this morning. The boys foraged outside while the girls got there morning swim and bath (pretty routine for us these days) and both girls and boys seem to enjoy the longer special time. Our very vocal Missy (MissAdventure), was talkative and happy. Lots of loud happy slightly bossy quacks this morning, along with my favorite, her happy song. All the ducks have a happy song, but Missy sings hers is the loudest. When the boys came back in the aviary they too started singing their happy song... clean pools, grass, floating duck food, everyone all together, pen raked clean, and no fighting over girls, yep.. the boys were happy and they were singing their deep boy coo coo happy songs. I LOVE IT!
My only worry this morning, is Queenie, she is VERY heavy with egg(s) again. She is showing all the classic signs of being egg bound again. (pray saints pray) If she doesn't lay by Monday, I am afraid we are off to another expensive vet visit.
I, GrMaDuck, am happy to report that when Keelyn is in the water we are starting to see her move her left leg much more again. Now if we can just keep her happy and not trying to walk on it. She will endure great pain to try and walk to get close to the flock.
That is all for now.
Have a duckie weekend!
:>
I spent all morning in the aviary, as is typical for a Saturday. I moved and rearranged Keelyn's "playpen" out from the center of the aviary. I used the flower border fencing we have been using but split it up into three smaller areas. (We will post pictures later.) The boredom and separation really gets to her. I, GrMaDuck, hope that having a few different SMALL areas to be in will discourage attempts to walk (we need those legs to heal) but will also help with the boredom and maybe the flock will spend a bit more time with her. The primary spot is near the human chairs, where the rest of the flock likes to nap in the afternoon, on the side of the aviary that gets the most shade. I am hoping this will help keep her cool on these very hot days.
I love to be out with the flock, even when I am sweating while cleaning out pools, carriers, house, etc. They were such a happy flock this morning. The boys foraged outside while the girls got there morning swim and bath (pretty routine for us these days) and both girls and boys seem to enjoy the longer special time. Our very vocal Missy (MissAdventure), was talkative and happy. Lots of loud happy slightly bossy quacks this morning, along with my favorite, her happy song. All the ducks have a happy song, but Missy sings hers is the loudest. When the boys came back in the aviary they too started singing their happy song... clean pools, grass, floating duck food, everyone all together, pen raked clean, and no fighting over girls, yep.. the boys were happy and they were singing their deep boy coo coo happy songs. I LOVE IT!
My only worry this morning, is Queenie, she is VERY heavy with egg(s) again. She is showing all the classic signs of being egg bound again. (pray saints pray) If she doesn't lay by Monday, I am afraid we are off to another expensive vet visit.
I, GrMaDuck, am happy to report that when Keelyn is in the water we are starting to see her move her left leg much more again. Now if we can just keep her happy and not trying to walk on it. She will endure great pain to try and walk to get close to the flock.
That is all for now.
Have a duckie weekend!
:>
Friday, June 3, 2011
Back in the box
We had been not been forcing Keelyn to stay inside the pet carrier all day (when see wasn't in the pool or tub) for two reasons.
First, she hated it. She naturally does not want to be separated from the flock at all. The carrier creates a significant separation, even when set out among the flock in the avairy. She was feeling better and stronger and it was making her really upset to be in it.
Secondly, the weather has been very hot and humid. The carrier with limited air flow becomes an like oven in the VA heat, even in the shade.
So for the last several days she has just been in her "playpen" area. She was doing and feeling better but tried to do too much "walking" (hobbling) and reinjuried her left leg. So with cooler temps and Keelyn wanting to lean on something to help deal with the pain in her leg, she is back in the box. Today she is happy to have a soft pile of wood chips under her and a wall to lean against.
Thanking God for cooler weather.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Rehab - Duck Sitting
BEAU
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Drakes are Great
We have beautiful boys (drakes).
I titled this Drakes are Great, because I swear when they puff up and sound off, they are singing out "Draaakees are Greaaat, Draaaaakes are Greeaaaaat,Draaaaakes are Greeaaaaat "
:>
This video is dedicated to our drakes, our beautiful boys. They haven't gotten as much video time lately, so we are making up for it today.
I titled this Drakes are Great, because I swear when they puff up and sound off, they are singing out "Draaakees are Greaaat, Draaaaakes are Greeaaaaat,Draaaaakes are Greeaaaaat "
:>
This video is dedicated to our drakes, our beautiful boys. They haven't gotten as much video time lately, so we are making up for it today.
Girlie Duckie pool time
Our girlie duckies (Queenie-black-Cayuga, Missy-white-Pekin, Keelyn-multi-Welsh Harlequin) having a blast in the very full and just cleaned pool. (wish the video quality was better- but too cute not to share)
(part 2)
fun fun fun
FAMILY FUN DAY 5
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
two videos 5/25/2011
video 1 - 10 min of boring morning stuff
((REMOVED)) just way too boring :-)
video 2
Queenie and Keelyn in the pool, Missy digging in the mud, and the boys running back and forth outside the avairy ... (and a bit of typing arm interference with the webcam)
((REMOVED)) just way too boring :-)
video 2
Queenie and Keelyn in the pool, Missy digging in the mud, and the boys running back and forth outside the avairy ... (and a bit of typing arm interference with the webcam)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A clean pool for the girlie duckies
Monday, May 23, 2011
Fighting the bordom
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Lots of pictures and considerations...
We are having to consider some hard things related to our little flock. Both of Keelyn's femurs are broken (due mainly to low calcium levels - she has experienced no major trauma). But surgery to pin them is not likely an option because of the low calcium (her bones are simply too weak.) So we are left with very difficult decisions...
put her to sleep OR try and rehab her ourselves OR find a rescue center that can rehab her
After doing some research, MamaDuck found out that those sanctuaries/rehab centers that even take pet ducks, are either so full of rescues that they can’t take any and/or they don’t take lame ducks. There is also the factor of, if we surrender Keelyn to a rehab center, we won’t get her back.
Things to consider
- GrmaDuck usually work 45-55 hours a week, which means that it is a daily challenge for her to make the time to care for and socialize with our little flock, but she manages and it is a delight. BUT adding rehab, will (if we do this right so that we can better manage her pain and increase her potential of a decent outcome) require more frequent care and more time with her and the flock.
- Only GrmaDuck and MamaDuck can work with Keelyn. We don't have anyone else that is comfortable with this. We do have a couple of people who can duck sit healthy ducks, but not injured or sick ducks.
- MamaDuck now lives 25 min away, and starts full-time work in a couple of months. She will always be around and be MamaDuck of the flock, just not every day.
- Happy or not, Keelyn is in pain.
- We wonder if she will ever be able to run and chase bugs again (which was her FAVORITE thing to do)
- We love her so very much. We wish we had a sign that their calcium was so low, but the eggs were fine, everyone was happy, we just couldn't have known before now. Her broken legs are breaking our hearts.
- We don't want to put her down. We selfishly want to keep her with us for all of her life.
- We are trying to be realistic. We are trying to think about what is best overall.
- We aren’t sure that we have the time or energy or money resources to give her the best rehab possible.
- It is more than, is Keelyn capable of being happy. It is, can we keep her happy, and manage her pain level well for months, and likely for years?
As of now, we are finding ways to keep her happy and as comfortable as possible. We even figured out how to keep her immobile while also with the rest of the flock in the aviary. Other than when she is trying to move, she doesn’t seem to be in great amounts of pain. We know that she has to be hurting; you can’t break both your femurs like that and not be in pain. But we are managing her meds to keep her comfortable and using water therapy as often as we can to relieve the pressure and weight off her legs. We have already started adding vitamins to their water which has calcium plus D (Vitamin D helps the body actually absorb the calcium) to help with her bones, and to prevent future issues with the other ducks.
Keelyn is and always has been very energetic, it is the reason we picked her name, Keelyn means "lively", this means that she is already trying to be adventurous and move more than we would like her to. This can create more problems as she is trying to heal.
If we continue down this road of rehab, it is going to be a very long, long hard road. We know that she will never be the same, and will most likely always be mostly lame. This is harder than we can put into words.
FOLLOW UP NOTE ADDED JUNE 2011: We decided "rehab" her ourselves. It has been a BIG challenge and has impacted every area of our life with the frequent time commitment required, but we are seeing progress and are hopeful that despite some permanent nerve damage in one leg she will walk again (she will likely never run again but walking is looking probable). Of course we will forever supplement their diet to counter the effects of the minerals in our ground and water that limit calcium absorption.
Now, for some pictures.
~MamaDuck and GrmaDuck
put her to sleep OR try and rehab her ourselves OR find a rescue center that can rehab her
After doing some research, MamaDuck found out that those sanctuaries/rehab centers that even take pet ducks, are either so full of rescues that they can’t take any and/or they don’t take lame ducks. There is also the factor of, if we surrender Keelyn to a rehab center, we won’t get her back.
Things to consider
- GrmaDuck usually work 45-55 hours a week, which means that it is a daily challenge for her to make the time to care for and socialize with our little flock, but she manages and it is a delight. BUT adding rehab, will (if we do this right so that we can better manage her pain and increase her potential of a decent outcome) require more frequent care and more time with her and the flock.
- Only GrmaDuck and MamaDuck can work with Keelyn. We don't have anyone else that is comfortable with this. We do have a couple of people who can duck sit healthy ducks, but not injured or sick ducks.
- MamaDuck now lives 25 min away, and starts full-time work in a couple of months. She will always be around and be MamaDuck of the flock, just not every day.
- Happy or not, Keelyn is in pain.
- We wonder if she will ever be able to run and chase bugs again (which was her FAVORITE thing to do)
- We love her so very much. We wish we had a sign that their calcium was so low, but the eggs were fine, everyone was happy, we just couldn't have known before now. Her broken legs are breaking our hearts.
- We don't want to put her down. We selfishly want to keep her with us for all of her life.
- We are trying to be realistic. We are trying to think about what is best overall.
- We aren’t sure that we have the time or energy or money resources to give her the best rehab possible.
- It is more than, is Keelyn capable of being happy. It is, can we keep her happy, and manage her pain level well for months, and likely for years?
As of now, we are finding ways to keep her happy and as comfortable as possible. We even figured out how to keep her immobile while also with the rest of the flock in the aviary. Other than when she is trying to move, she doesn’t seem to be in great amounts of pain. We know that she has to be hurting; you can’t break both your femurs like that and not be in pain. But we are managing her meds to keep her comfortable and using water therapy as often as we can to relieve the pressure and weight off her legs. We have already started adding vitamins to their water which has calcium plus D (Vitamin D helps the body actually absorb the calcium) to help with her bones, and to prevent future issues with the other ducks.
Keelyn is and always has been very energetic, it is the reason we picked her name, Keelyn means "lively", this means that she is already trying to be adventurous and move more than we would like her to. This can create more problems as she is trying to heal.
If we continue down this road of rehab, it is going to be a very long, long hard road. We know that she will never be the same, and will most likely always be mostly lame. This is harder than we can put into words.
FOLLOW UP NOTE ADDED JUNE 2011: We decided "rehab" her ourselves. It has been a BIG challenge and has impacted every area of our life with the frequent time commitment required, but we are seeing progress and are hopeful that despite some permanent nerve damage in one leg she will walk again (she will likely never run again but walking is looking probable). Of course we will forever supplement their diet to counter the effects of the minerals in our ground and water that limit calcium absorption.
Now, for some pictures.
 |
| Family breakfast around Keelyn |
 |
| Tub (Water therapy) time...Darrick sneaking some of Keelyn's treats :P |
 |
| Kouta - "My Love!...My Darling!" Keelyn - "Babe, you ate my treats...you get no love right now." :P |
 |
| Time to dry off and preen in the sun on the towel. |
 |
| "Gotta....get...comfy..." This is the only way she can move around right now, she pushes herself up to get her legs comfortable. |
 |
| "I don't like this...but since you're holding my bill, I'll tolerate it." We have to roll her over to dry her belly off since she can't reach that one spot. |
 |
| You can see, her right leg (the older less severe break) she can sort of move if it doesn't have weight on it. But her left leg (the more recent, and worse break) has nerve damage, she can move her foot, but not her leg. |
 |
| "I'm tired Mama, hold my head for me" <3 |
 |
| "Ahh...Back in the aviary with everybody, in my new set up, so I can see and talk to everyone, but I can still rest, and not worry about those silly boys getting too close." |
~MamaDuck and GrmaDuck
'family mealtime'
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
TWO broken legs
Actually it is her femurs that are broken. One of the breaks is at nearly a right angle causing nerve impairment with possible permanent nerve damage.
*tears*
more worries
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are VERY VERY worried. She has been on antibiotics for almost a month, and a second round of anti-inflamintory for almost a week, to treat what the vet thought she has bumble foot and then adding a knee sprain on top of it. But now... now .....
We are VERY VERY concerned..... Keelyn's condition has significantly changed since yesterday. She mostly drags herself around by her wings. She feels a bit bonier (thinner) today. She doesn't appear to be in pain, but to be sick and wea...k and her the way she barely moves or uses her legs looks like paralysis more than injury. I am wondering if she got into something poisenous. She doesn't want to eat her duck feed only mud or to sleep in the nest. Our vet is off today. We are calling all around for vet to help us.
Queenie
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A quick but necessary update
Just wanted to let everyone know, that MamaDuck has moved out of GrmaDuck's house, about 20min away. I will still be around very often to keep my role as #1 in the flock, and to help with the responsibilities (especially while we are still dealing with health issues since GrmaDuck and myself - MamaDuck - are the only ones who know how to give medicine.)
Also, Queenie has an appointment with the vet tonight...we are thinking that it's not going to be a great prognosis. She has not laid eggs in quite some time, and is visibly heavy with egg. This may (most likely) require surgery to take care of. Depending on what the Vet says, we are going to have to wiegh our options and see if we can afford that kind of care, plus the added time and responsibility of post-op care. I (MamaDuck) really wants to just do what will make her healthy again...but I also know that it costs money that we may not have. :-\ I've been very worried, but trying not to let it get to me.
Anywho...enough of that. We will update later with what the vet says and our decisions.
~MamaDuck
Also, Queenie has an appointment with the vet tonight...we are thinking that it's not going to be a great prognosis. She has not laid eggs in quite some time, and is visibly heavy with egg. This may (most likely) require surgery to take care of. Depending on what the Vet says, we are going to have to wiegh our options and see if we can afford that kind of care, plus the added time and responsibility of post-op care. I (MamaDuck) really wants to just do what will make her healthy again...but I also know that it costs money that we may not have. :-\ I've been very worried, but trying not to let it get to me.
Anywho...enough of that. We will update later with what the vet says and our decisions.
~MamaDuck
Mutiny and Duck Poo
Monday, May 16, 2011
I, GrMaDuck, arrived home after a meeting tonight, to find all our six duckies asleep in their house. If I hadn't needed to give Keelyn medication it would have been just a simple nighty-nighty and close and latch the duck house door for added safety. It was so cute that they put themselves to bed.
:-)
(Remember we have a pretty predator proof pen/aviary, and INSIDE the pen/aviary is a duck house that provides additional protection and weather-proof comfort. After loosing our first two precious feathered family members last year, well we are VERY cautious. Alex and Bianca were only three years old and very healthy. Oh how we loved them and they us. We have no soft spot in our heart for coyote since last year.)
But anyway I digress... They were very sweet duckies this evening, well that is until I woke up everyone to give a very grumpy Keelyn her medication.
~Nighty Night all
GrMaDuck
P.S.
Earlier in the day, MamaDuck, killed a big black snake that was trying to figure out how to get in the aviary. We are so grateful that we added the hardware fabric around the bottom. But the avairy netting that covers the avairy is 2"x2", it might have taken this snake awhile to figure out how to climb to the top, but GrMaDuck is 99.9% sure this is the same snake that climbed up the gutters to get to and eat a nest full of young song birds. (The birds had nested over the flood lights on our house.) The snakes are mostly after small animals and eggs but they will strike at a duck to get to an egg. Thank you MamaDuck for protecting the flock.
:-)
(Remember we have a pretty predator proof pen/aviary, and INSIDE the pen/aviary is a duck house that provides additional protection and weather-proof comfort. After loosing our first two precious feathered family members last year, well we are VERY cautious. Alex and Bianca were only three years old and very healthy. Oh how we loved them and they us. We have no soft spot in our heart for coyote since last year.)
But anyway I digress... They were very sweet duckies this evening, well that is until I woke up everyone to give a very grumpy Keelyn her medication.
~Nighty Night all
GrMaDuck
P.S.
Earlier in the day, MamaDuck, killed a big black snake that was trying to figure out how to get in the aviary. We are so grateful that we added the hardware fabric around the bottom. But the avairy netting that covers the avairy is 2"x2", it might have taken this snake awhile to figure out how to climb to the top, but GrMaDuck is 99.9% sure this is the same snake that climbed up the gutters to get to and eat a nest full of young song birds. (The birds had nested over the flood lights on our house.) The snakes are mostly after small animals and eggs but they will strike at a duck to get to an egg. Thank you MamaDuck for protecting the flock.
all is well
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Keelyn update ... a short video
Keelyn injured her leg, turns out she sprained her knee pretty badly. She can hobble around but she has a hard time balancing and she chooses to sit a lot.
Girl are in the R&R pen during the day.
Everyone goes back in the duck house at night with Keelyn is in the pet carrier.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
*sigh* Came home tonight to see that Keelyn can't walk on her right leg and is using her wings to balance herself. Back to the vet tomorrow for an X ray. For tonight she's in the pet carrier, inside the house, to keep her from trying to stand or walk, but also to keep her with everyone to prevent attitude issues. *stress* *stress* *stress* Trusting God.
We are also watching Queenie closely she is always heavy and not laying much. If she doesn't show improvement Queenie may also be getting a ride to the vet later this week.
We are also watching Queenie closely she is always heavy and not laying much. If she doesn't show improvement Queenie may also be getting a ride to the vet later this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)