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Issue 70 October 2010

In This Issue:

  Mug-of-the-Month
  Discovering Maggots
  Euthanasia
  Smuckers
  Special Thanks!
  The Month in Photos
  Majestic Adoption!
  Majestic Newcomer!
  Majestic Sponsorship
  Recommended Reading!

To Make a Donation, please click here:  Donation

Have You Seen Our Video Clips at Myspace?

http://profile.myspace.com/majesticducks

Sanctuary videos change throughout the month, so keep checking back to see the latest!

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Log in, click on "Find Friends" and then type:  Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary into the "Search for People" field.

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The Month in Photos!

Rub-a-dub-dub 3 ducks in a tub!

QUACK!

Beautiful Hazel...

Majestic Newcomer!

Oh Henry!

Majestic Adoption!

Wishing Haley happiness in her new home!

Majestic Sponsorship

If you can’t adopt, please consider sponsoring a duck or goose in our care by visiting our sponsorship page.  

Recommended Reading

Duck!

Product Description

Raised among humans, Ori Jones only discovered he was an avian shifter six months ago. Unable to complete a full shift until he reaches his avian maturity, he still can’t be sure of his exact species.

But with species comes rank, and rank is everything to the avians. When a partial shift allows the elders to announce that they believe Ori to be a rather ugly little duckling, he drops straight to the bottom rung of their hierarchy.

Life isn’t easy for Ori until he comes to the attention of a high ranking hawk shifter. Then the only question is, is Ori really a duck—and what will his new master think when the truth eventually comes out?

 

Click here to order.

* For our full recommended reading list, click here. If you order from Amazon by way of our website, Majestic receives a portion of the proceeds!
 

Contact Us

Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary
17 Barker Road
Lebanon, CT 06249
directorATmajesticwaterfowl.org

Our Newsletter

The Majestic Monthly is published 12 times per year. Previous issues are available in our Archives.

Majestic's Mug-of-the-Month!

 

A portion of all proceeds go directly to our sanctuary!

This month's Mug-of-the-Month features Jack Frost! Jack is a rescued and adopted Muscovy drake. 

Click Here to order your mug today!

Please do NOT send payments directly to Majestic.

Image close-up:


Discovering Maggots

Finding maggots anywhere on your precious duck or goose can mean any of these things:

1)       There is too much poop on the ground, drawing in excess flies.

2)       Your duck or goose is not cleaning themselves properly.

3)      Your duck or goose has a hidden wound somewhere that needs attending.

In any case, bring your pet to the vet for an immediate examination. Your vet will likely advise three courses of action:

  • Clean bath

Place your bird into a fresh, clean water source (kiddy pool or tub) and encourage them to clean frequently with frequent water changes. You can use a very, very diluted Betadine® (diluted with water to the color of weak tea) in a syringe to flush out the affected area over and over again.

  • Tweezers

All maggots must be removed using tweezers and flushing. If any maggots are in the vent further vet care will be required.

  • Medication

Your vet will likely prescribe a small dose of Ivermectin® to your duck or goose orally via syringe to help eradicate any missed maggots and eggs. Have your vet help you with this because it is easy to overdose and this kind of error can be very dangerous and even fatal.

  • Fly Predators

Preventative care can include reducing your number of flies. Fly predators are a great way to do exactly this. These tiny wasps predate on maggots and dramatically reduce fly populations. We have them sent every month from May through August. We sprinkle 5000 around our pens each month and house flies are no longer an issue. For more information you can visit their website:  www.spalding-labs.com.


Euthanasia

Although no one likes to think about it, families sometimes need to make a choice when it comes to the care of their fading duck or goose, especially if pain or suffering (that has no hope of relief) is involved. My husband and I rely on each other’s and our vet’s opinion when it comes to making the decision to euthanize a sick animal. We only proceed if the decision is clearly hopeless and all three of us are in absolute agreement.

If you’re anything like us, you won’t be in the proper state of mind to ask your vet questions in the midst of easing your pet over to the other side. Although it may be uncomfortable to read this now, it may make things a little less stressful for you if you are ever faced with this decision later.

Most vets will use a two injection procedure when putting your duck or goose to sleep. Some vets will give both injections in front of you while others will administer the first in a back room and then bring your pet to you before giving them the second injection. For the emotional sake of our birds, we prefer to be present for both injections, so that they are always with someone familiar. We just can’t have any of our once-abandoned animals feeling any kind of abandonment again at the end of their life. One of us stays with them and talks to them and tries to comfort them while they slip away.

When you and your pet are ready, your vet will administer the first injection, which is an intramuscular sedative that induces euphoria, commonly Telazol. This is a mixture of tiletamine (dissociative anesthetic) and zolazepam (sedative). Together these two drugs induce an extremely effective sedation that approximates complete anesthesia where no pain is felt by your pet. Some ducks and geese will flap their wings during this state and try to fly. They are not in pain or uncomfortable, they are just in a euphoric state. I sometimes wonder where they are trying to fly to…

The second injection is commonly administered intravenously. It is usually some kind of barbituate injection that causes rapid cardiac arrest. Your vet will commonly leave you alone with your feathered friend after administering the final injection and give you all the time you need to say good-bye.


Smuckers

Smuckers is an Ancona/Buff mix who was rescued by our friends and devoted volunteers, the Garey family. He was removed from a wildlife preserve where he was abandoned and living with wild mallards.

Smuckers is currently residing with the Gareys in Arlington, TN while he waits for his new and forever home. His new family should be prepared to pick him up there.

If you have a predator proof pen and a loving home and are interested in adopting Smuckers, please Email Us and we will put you in touch with the Gareys.

Please note, this is a courtesy listing; Smuckers is not located at Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary.

 


Special Thanks!

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our call out for donations last month!

Laura & Lemon, Deborah & Tommy Knocker, Christina & Sweet Pea, Anne & Sophie, Dayl & Peepers, Caroline, Dennis, Beth, Val, Lisa, Elaine, Mary W., Brett, Joyce, Gary,  Jenn and Mary G.

If you have not yet donated and you are enjoying our free and informative newsletters, please consider making a small donation. Remember, every little bit helps!

Thank you again, EVERYONE!

Salem says:  THANK YOU!

       Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with any guidance provided on this website. Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state or municipal law or regulation with which such guidance may conflict. Any guidance is general in nature. In addition, the assistance of a qualified professional should be enlisted to address any specific circumstances.
 

© Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary 2009