Duck down !!

Hi
I have 5 Pekin duck 6 months old. 2 male 3 female they are laying one egg a day.. I went out yesterday morning and found one of the female in their stall sitting in the nest hole. I thought she had started to brood, I lifted her up but saw no eggs left her food and water. I put her back and went on my way. Checked her last night and still sitting there, picked her up and still no egg. This morning she has moved to the other side of stall. I checked her but found no sign of injury, she did not seem to be in any pain. She will stand but when she tries to walk she falls forward and lays there. Any suggestions.

Mike

I would pick her up and bring her inside for a closer look. You need to do a full physical, checking for wounds on her head, neck or body - flip her over and examine her legs and feet. I would also be concerned that she isn't laying eggs. I would carefully check her pelvis to feel for an egg, make sure she isn't egg bound.

On another note - you may have too many males. Is there a possibility she is overmated? Does she have a bald spot in her neck? You should have at least 3 females to every male. I have noticed that if one female is being bred to heavily, she will withdraw from the group. She may be feeling harassed, and while she has no outward injury, she is withdrawing from the group to protect herself. This could be happening at night when they are enclosed together too. Ducks don't only mate during the day - they may be trying to mate with her at night, since they didn't see her during the day. Poor little thing.

I would take her inside with you, and keep her overnight if you can.

WmMike said:

Hi
I have 5 Pekin duck 6 months old. 2 male 3 female they are laying one egg a day.. I went out yesterday morning and found one of the female in their stall sitting in the nest hole. I thought she had started to brood, I lifted her up but saw no eggs left her food and water. I put her back and went on my way. Checked her last night and still sitting there, picked her up and still no egg. This morning she has moved to the other side of stall. I checked her but found no sign of injury, she did not seem to be in any pain. She will stand but when she tries to walk she falls forward and lays there. Any suggestions.

Mike

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@WmMike has she started laying yet? and if so when was the last time if you know. She maybe egg bound, Can you bring her inside and put her in a tub of warm water and let her float for a while with you staying with her. ? If she has an egg that needs to come out sometimes floating in warm water can help the relax enough to lay it. I'd keep her confined where you can keep an eye on her too make sure she can get to her water and feed also you can check her vent some time if trying to lay their vent will pulse. Do you feed layer? Feel gently down around her lower belly for an egg too. This could be other things but lets rule out one thing at a time.

I checked her over this morning saw no injuries, felt along her abdomen and did not feel any lumps or anything like an egg. Have dog and cats in house so no where to put her. Have locked her into a stall by herself will check on her after work.

Mike

Just checked on her and she is standing st the water bowl. She is holding her right foot up against her body. Will keep her separated for a few days to see if it gets better.

Thanks
mike

WmMike said:

Just checked on her and she is standing st the water bowl. She is holding her right foot up against her body. Will keep her separated for a few days to see if it gets better.

Thanks
mike

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Might want to add some poultry vitamins to her water to help boost her immune system.

WmMike said:

Just checked on her and she is standing st the water bowl. She is holding her right foot up against her body. Will keep her separated for a few days to see if it gets better.

Thanks
mike

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Ditto on the vitamins. And

Checked on her today. She is standing ,and drinking . When she tries to walk she falls down. She gets right back up just can not move her legs forward to walk.

WmMike said:

Checked on her today. She is standing ,and drinking . When she tries to walk she falls down. She gets right back up just can not move her legs forward to walk.

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What are you giving her? any vitamins for support. I'd even add some Brewers Or Nutritional yeast to her feed. 1 Tab to 1 cup of feed. It can't help and may help. be worth a try.

What about the drakes could they be over mating her?2 drakes to 3 females isn't a good ratio.