Disabled duck gets resin transplant after having his beak chewed off

[Donna]

A duck who had its beak chewed off has been nursed back to health by vets who gave it a beak transplant.

Vets reconstructed the bird's beak using a type of resin normally used by dentists for fillings after a member of the public found the mallard, named Bill, with most of his beak missing.

Tim Wingfield, from the Deane Veterinary Centre in Taunton in Somerset, performed the operation.
He said: 'I have heard of parrots having their beak replaced. There have been ducks which have had a dead bird's beaks implemented onto their own.

'The beak is a bit like a fingernail; it is growing all the time and it is a slow process.

'Bill couldn't eat before, so the procedure allows him to feed again and behave like a duck.

'We have had to patch him up a couple of times, when a crack has appeared, but he is feeding and doing very well.

'He seems very happy, but it will probably have to be re-done at some stage.'

Mr Wingfield added he is unsure exactly how Bill was injured, but many locals have voiced their own suspicions.

He said: 'A fisherman told me that a big pike could have done it while the duck was feeding at the edge of the water, but whether that is true, I'm not sure.

'We just assumed a dog or fox had bitten him.

'A fox would have probably gone for the neck, but whatever it was cut straight through his beak and tongue.'

Bill is now recovering at the RSPCA centre in West Hatch and if the beak repairs he will be released.

[valhalla]

He said: 'A fisherman told me that a big pike could have done it while the duck was feeding at the edge of the water, but whether that is true, I'm not sure.

'We just assumed a dog or fox had bitten him.

'A fox would have probably gone for the neck, but whatever it was cut straight through his beak and tongue.'

A big pike, muskee, or other Large Fish with TEETH  would do that.  A Snapper would, too, but that guy probably wouldn't go for the beak.