2 sick and 1 dead duck PLEASE HELP

[Floof]

I have been struggling with my duck flock since the fires swept through. First the ash removed their waterproofness and they are still struggling with that but now it seems like they may have eaten something poisonous or have some other similar ailment. Yesterday morning I went out and discovered 1 of my welsh harliquin females dead with no unusual signs or injuries. The only weird thing was that she was by herself and all the other ducks had moved to another area on my property. I assumed that she must have gotten too cold in the night and passed away due to that. Several hours later, I went to check on them again and discovered another of my welsh harliquin females unable to stand and trying to catch up to the rest of the ducks by sort of plopping along on her wings. I put her in a bucket and brought her home, washed her off as she was covered in mud and poop, and kept her in my warm bathroom for the night with some food and water. Today I discovered one of my golden cascade males with the same symptoms. They both initially presented with lameness in their legs, lack of coordination, insatiable thirst but squishy neck/crop areas, green vomiting, and runny poops. She is now able to stand on her own but does not attempt to walk anywhere. Neither of them are quacking.

I am worried about tending to more ducks that might come down with whatever this problem is. We are still apartment living while our house is being finished and I'm not supposed to be bringing livestock home! What might be going on and how can I prevent it??

 

[Isaac 0]

Sorry for your loss.

Paralysis, lethargy, death, green stools, affecting multiple birds, is often a sign of toxicosis. Ducks are particularly vulnerable to suffering from this since they like to root around in decaying vegetation which may contain mycotoxins, or root around in muddy stagnant water, that contains clostridium endospores. Old feed that contains mold could be a source of aflatoxins.


Are they eating, or drinking?

If they were mine, I would go ahead and get them started on activated charcoal which helps binds and destroy these toxins. If you can't get activated charcoal, you could use molasses, or Epsom salts, preferably the latter which will help flush out any toxin better. You'll want to give them all a direct dose, and after so, you want focus on keeping them hydrated. Their bodies are trying to get rid of these foreign invaders, but their bodies can't properly do so being dehydrated. Gatorade or sugar water would be good to hydrate them with.

If you have birds outside, it may be good to lock them in their coop for now.

Dosages for suggested laxatives :

http://extension.msstate.edu/content/solutions-and-treatments

 

[Floof]

Thank you! I'll go see what I can find at the store today

 

[Isaac 0]

@Floof , How are your ducks doing today?

 

[Floof]

@Floof , How are your ducks doing today?

The female seems to be almost back to normal. The male is still having a rough time. He can stand but has not been eating, only drinking. Hopefully as the toxin makes it's way out, he'll regain his appetite.

 

[Isaac 0]

The female seems to be almost back to normal. The male is still having a rough time. He can stand but has not been eating, only drinking. Hopefully as the toxin makes it's way out, he'll regain his appetite.

I'm glad to hear the female is doing better. We're you able to get charcoal, or give them one of the other laxatives suggested?

 

[Floof]

I'm glad to hear the female is doing better. We're you able to get charcoal, or give them one of the other laxatives suggested?

I added some molasses to the water in the morning and replaced it with regular water around lunch time. I don't know that he drank very much though. I only saw him try once and he seemed to have a hard time lining up his head and body to drink.