hen cannot balance

[RebinNH]

I know it's heartbreaking. It's okay I just wanted you to know I wasn't blaming you for anything. You did all you could.

So, another vet suggested that my duck may have had an ear infection. Anyone hear (sorry for the pun) of that and had a duck lose it's balance (and then die of) to an ear infection?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard when we love our babies and especially when we try so hard and have no answers.

 

[RebinNH]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's so hard when we love our babies and especially when we try so hard and have no answers.

Thank you. Still trying to determine what took her, just so I can be aware of that potential if it ever happens again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

In us humans ear infections can cause us to be off balance. So could be a possibility.

 

[RebinNH]

Yes but what I wonder is how likely it is for ducks to get ear infections, as I've never heard of that and I assume their ears are made for lots of water in them since they dive in and dip in (splashing as they come up) so often.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Chickens can not sure on waterfowl , I did a search and only chickens came up.

 

[RebinNH]

This is interesting
https://thehomesteadinghippy.com/do-ducks-have-ears/

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had such a hard time finding my goose's ears she went through a spell where she was shaking her head and of course first thing that popped into my mind was her ears. So I sat down with Missy holding her between my knees and went searching for her ears, {she was very patient with me being she does not like to be touched} I finally found them and both ears looked very normal no drainage or smell nothing out of the ordinary. She finally stopped shaking her head so I have no idea what that was about. But it was pretty cool to see her ears.

 

[RebinNH]

I'll bet. I did not even think to check my hen Luna's ears. She was the swimmer too. Wish I had but will know better if need be.

 

[6Quackers]

Yes but what I wonder is how likely it is for ducks to get ear infections, as I've never heard of that and I assume their ears are made for lots of water in them since they dive in and dip in (splashing as they come up) so often.

I have three ducks with ear infections. Then I have three additional ducks with a Mite infestation in their ears. So yes, sadly, ear issues are definitely a thing for ducks. Two of my ducks have very narrow ear canals, they are elderly ducks, and because of this narrow canal their ear does not drain properly. So if they are submerging their head in poopy water, as ducks do make their water poopy no matter how often you clean it, an infection sets in. My third duck appears to have some kind of lesion growing inside her canal Hopefully not cancer which is another thing that can cause an infection. So I now perform regular ear checks along with their regular nail trimmings