Feather Acres
Specializing in Rare Breed Poultry Preservation
Popsicle the Wonder Duck
On November 30, 2004 I went out to feed a little early while it was still light out. I always do a duck headcount to make sure everyone is accounted for. After several rechecks, I was still one white runner short. After a quick look around, I saw her. She had somehow gotten in the goat's water, and had not been able to get out. She was totally lifeless with her head hanging out the side. I picked her up out of the almost freezing water and was pretty sure she was gone. I studied her for breathing, and saw none. I had pretty much convinced myself it was too late when her foot just barely twitched. I still didn't know if I could believe my eyes, so I talked to her, and it happened again! I rushed her inside to my son's bathtub which I filled with very warm water. I held her in the water not letting her go because she couldn't even hold her own head up. After a few minutes she started weakly fighting me. I got a laundry basket, put a heating pad in the bottom and a space heater next to it. I put her in and covered 2/3 with a towel to keep the heat in and darken it a bit to keep her calm. I couldn't believe it, after about half an hour she was struggling to try and stand! I got a bigger tub that she couldn't hop out of, and moved her and the heating pad to it. A couple hours later she was up and quacking! After spending the night in the ICU (bathroom) she was perfectly fine and ready to go back out with her friends. If not for the band I put on her leg to keep track of her, I wouldn't know her from the others. The goat's water now has fence wire over the top of it so goat noses can get in to drink, but ducks stay out. I resisted the urge to post a "No Swimming" sign. Figured it would be pretty lost on them!
Here is a pic of Popsicle in the ICU. Did I mention ducks are messy?!
Popsicle Update 7/14/05 -
After having a MAJOR prolapse of the uterus problem that required stitching things back in place, Popsicle was moved to my new bird barn to recover. While there she decided she wanted to be a mom and went broody. Seeing an opportunity to keep her out of trouble for a while, I let her have some Welsh Harlequin duck eggs I had in my incubator. Popsicle is now the proud mother of 9 little babies that she guards with such ferocity that even the bravest soul wouldn't challenge her! Go Popsicle!
Popsicle Update 10/22/05 -
Popsicle has gone to live on a huge pond about 15 minutes from here with the rest of my runner flock (except the trouts). She will have lots of time to swim and laze on the shore. I won't ever forget her!