ölümün ağzından A Brush With Death

Hello, Benjamin from Brother’s Campfire here! Gather ’round and I will a spin you a tale from my backyard.

Over several posts, I have described the personality of one of my Khaki Campbell ducks. You can read about her in A Smidgen Of Crazy, and One Bad Mother Ducky.

She has a permanent scowl and does not mess around with foolishness, especially from dogs.

She had taken to laying eggs right next to the fence, antagonizing the dogs. I asked what I should name her and got a lot of cool suggestions. I toyed around the idea of getting her a band.

Well, we were all settled down eating an epic dinner

An Epic Dinner

when we heard the fence rattle and the ducks quacking and Trumpet our goose honking up a storm. We all ran outside to see that the neighbor’s husky had reached through the fence and was trying to pull my duck though a 3 inch hole.

How the dog managed to grab ahold is beyond me. It was a pull through chain and lattice.

I ran outside and the husky played tug of war with me over my duck. Grabbing the dog by the teeth, I lost a little skin in the game, but it was worth it. I had my duck.

My duck lost a bit more. She nearly had her thigh ripped from the socket. I put her in the shower to rinse her off and assess the damage.

Having lost a lot of blood, I sprayed disinfectant all over her wounds and then when that dried, sprayed her down with liquid skin. I let that dry and sprayed on a few more layers.

She was game and wanted to be outside so I laid her near the pond.

He left leg was completely useless. I will leave what is under her feathers to your imagination. I made sure the thigh was connected to the pelvis the best I could and felt for broken bones and could not find any.

She wasn’t going anywhere fast and still had a lot of spunk so I did not cull her, figuring she would die in the middle of the night near her friends.

My ducks are not like chickens and it seemed like they surrounded her protectively.

In the morning, she was standing on one foot with the other dangling in a distorted way.

I resolved to help and purchased a thumb and finger splint from Walmart.

Using a tiny hammer I flattened the bottom for a foot pad.

I used the finger splint for the second bend in the leg and affixed it to the duck’s leg.

To further secure it, we used an athletic tape that is water resistant.

After a few adjustments, she was able to use the leg as a kickstand but the leg did not move on its own.

We decided to call her ölümün ağzından. We can hardly pronounce it but it roughly means out of the jaws of death. It doesn’t look like we will need a band to pick her out.

I hope she pulls through.

Author: Benjamin

Benjamin Thiel is a husband, father, correctional professional and author of The Ongoing Tale at Brothers Campfire.

72 thoughts on “ölümün ağzından A Brush With Death

  1. eob2 says:

    Aww poor baby. She seems determined to fight. Hope she wins the battle. ❤️‍🩹

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I hope she wins as well! Right now she is standing on both feet, applying pressure to the splinted area.

      Reply
  2. Beverly says:

    I hope she pulls through. I admire her so much. She is blessed to have you all.

    Reply
      1. Beverly says:

        You’re welcome. I have been praying. Is she okay this morning? Is she moving that leg? Are you okay? How is your hand? 🙏

        Reply
          1. Beverly says:

            I am so sorry she is not well. My heart is so sad for this brave duck. You’re welcome on the prayers! Glad you’re hand is doing okay.

          2. Beverly says:

            How is she doing today? I am still praying for her. Was the professor able to give you some helpful information to help the healing process in her hip and leg? Thanks.

          3. Benjamin says:

            Hello Beverly! After speaking to the professor, I learned this: If the tendon from the ankle to the thigh is torn, she will not do well.
            We have not yet determined this to be the case so this is promising.
            Last night, she made a show of walking in her splint and was the first to bed without any assistance so that is a good sign. Thank you for asking!

          4. Beverly says:

            Thanks for the update! Hoping the tendon is not torn. That is wonderful that she is walking in her splint. She is a fighter, an truly amazing duck. You’re welcome!

          5. Beverly says:

            How is she doing today? I am still praying for her. Was the professor able to give you some helpful information to help the healing process in her hip and leg? Thanks.

    1. Benjamin says:

      Thanks KT Workman. She is tough, but I need for her to get that upper leg moving back and forth.

      Reply
  3. bullroarin says:

    Bless you Benjamin for helping her. If she makes it (and I hope she will) it will be because of you. Maybe she will lay a golden egg!

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Ha ha! Thanks bullroaring. I am concerned about the hip. As far as I know it is connected.

      Reply
  4. Cassa Bassa says:

    I pray the duck angel is watching over her and she will heal with the aid you custom made her. 🙏

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Well, he did what dogs do. He didn’t hop the fence, so there isn’t a lot to be done. The owners offered to assist financially for the bird and my hand.

      Reply
      1. Lookoom says:

        I think it’s the world upside down, it’s the owner’s responsibility to make sure his dog doesn’t enter another property. Would you let your ducks feed on his flower beds?

        Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          I would not allow the duck to browse anothers flower bed. Despite a double fence of chain link and trellis, he was able to get his mouth through and grab the duck. I agree, personal responsibility is important.

          Reply
  5. Omatra7 says:

    ❤️ awww I’m glad your animals alert so well!! I’m glad you could save her.

    🙏🙏

    Reply
      1. Omatra7 says:

        Well maybe will… give it time… just happened is probably bruised and hurty

        Does she stay away from fence now?

        Reply
          1. Omatra7 says:

            Well I will hope for your little duck 🦆 hopefully she pulls through with a miracle 🙌✌️❤️ sometimes things surprise you 🙏 hopefully will go ok!

  6. Terveen Gill says:

    This is so sad!
    She’s a fighter. I hope she pulls through. But the pain must be so tough. ☹️

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      She is not doing good this morning, but she is eating and floating in my backyard pond. The mobility issue is the biggest concern. Thank you Terveen.

      Reply
        1. Benjamin says:

          If she wasn’t fighting I would have culled her already to end the suffering. She has not given up on herself yet.

          Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I sure hope all goes well. I have been in contact with a professor from a college who knows about such things.

      Reply
  7. believe4147 says:

    Yes, I hope she recovers well. My boys had a little rabbit, “Bugs”, they rescued, fed from an eyedropper, and had it almost to the point of releasing it. But we wanted it to get use to be outdoors and put it in a cage on the grass. We didn’t realize until it was too late our terrier mix could get at Bugs. It was a sad day for our boys.

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      I could use an engineer to fabricate a leg. Perhaps steam powered. Perhaps I can write a new chapter of the Ongoing Tale

      Reply
  8. donmatthewspoetry says:

    Gawd….Seems rough territory you live in….I’d be using the hammer on the husky….maybe duck is their delicacy of choice?.,….

    Despite all this ölümün ağzından really appreciates you…..I’ll remember your instructions if I ever need splint my wing……

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Thanks for the support. The husky has instincts. Duck is tasty, just not my duck.

      Reply
  9. jonicaggiano says:

    Wow what an amazing story. You live a wild and exciting life. I love it. How cleaver you were on helping her little leg out. Animals are so resilient. What a sweet story. That must of hurt like the dickens. Really enjoyed this story. You are a riot actually. 🤗Joni

    Reply
    1. Benjamin says:

      Thank you Rabbia! We are still monitoring it all. I appreciate the care and concern.

      Reply

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