5 month old duck cough/wheeze. When to worry?

[AzDuck]

Hi BYC

I have a 5 mo old female runner who woke up today with what I would call a small wheeze or cough? She just started it this morning, but she has plenty of water to clear her nares with. When should I start to worry? I have oral antibiotics if needed, but I don’t want to over react and treat her if it isn’t needed.

She is still drinking and pooping normally. She is also with the flock as normal. She has a bit of a limp this morning, but I think it’s just from her getting a little too excited today when she was let out to free range. Sometimes that happens to my other female runner too.

Thank you guys!

 

[Isaac 0]

How is she doing this evening? Has the duck ever had problems before? What are you feeding them? Could you post a video of her?

Most likely she inhaled some feed dust, or her voice box was damaged slightly. It should go away in a few days.

 

[AzDuck]

How is she doing this evening? Has the duck ever had problems before? What are you feeding them? Could you post a video of her?

Most likely she inhaled some feed dust, or her voice box was damaged slightly. It should go away in a few days.

Thank you so much as always for your reply. And I worked this evening, and my husband put them in their house tonight, so I haven’t had the chance to listen again. I will in the morning. And if she is, I’ll post a video! They just eat Mazuri Waterfowl Starter and various fruits and veggies. But they do sleep in a mixed bedding of straw, wood shavings and pine pellets. Maybe she sucked up some of that?? I hope it’s something simple.

 

[Isaac 0]

Thank you so much as always for your reply. And I worked this evening, and my husband put them in their house tonight, so I haven’t had the chance to listen again. I will in the morning. And if she is, I’ll post a video! They just eat Mazuri Waterfowl Starter and various fruits and veggies. But they do sleep in a mixed bedding of straw, wood shavings and pine pellets. Maybe she sucked up some of that?? I hope it’s something simple.

Mazuri starter is crumbles, correct? It may be best to switch them to a feed where the pellets are bigger. My birds tend to developed respiratory problems when on powdery type feeds.


I'll wait for the video.

 

[AzDuck]

Hi @Isaac 0

So I’ve been trying to get a video, but it’s so few and far between, I can’t time it right. It seems to have mostly gone away, except for one or two coughs/wheezes in the early morning when we first let them out of their coop. It is getting a little cooler in the mornings (low 40s)? Could she also just be getting too excited? They RUN out of their coops like crazed ducks in the a.m. Maybe she sucks something up and is just trying to clear her airway. Not sure. She doesn’t seem to do it for the rest of the day.
Thank you again

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Mazuri starter is crumbles, correct? It may be best to switch them to a feed where the pellets are bigger. My birds tend to developed respiratory problems when on powdery type feeds.


I'll wait for the video.

I agree with crumbles possible being the culprit. They seem to inhale too quickly especially if they decided to grab a few mouthfuls before heading over to the water. I've always had to make a wet mash of the crumbles for the little guys and a soon as possible move them up to pellets. The texture of dried crumbles reminds me of someone crushing up saltine crackers and we all know how well eating a hand full of saltine crackers goes.

 

[AzDuck]

I agree with crumbles possible being the culprit. They seem to inhale too quickly especially if they decided to grab a few mouthfuls before heading over to the water. I've always had to make a wet mash of the crumbles for the little guys and a soon as possible move them up to pellets. The texture of dried crumbles reminds me of someone crushing up saltine crackers and we all know how well eating a hand full of saltine crackers goes.

Haha yes! I’ve in fact choked on a few saltine crackers in my life. I would say that’s right, but the Mazuri feed that they eat is actually little tiny round pellets. They don’t seem like they would irritate them much. They sleep on straw though, and I wonder if maybe she sucks some of that in and then gets really excited in the mornings and runs around until she has to try and clear her airway. It’s like watching excited toddlers in the mornings here lol.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Haha yes! I’ve in fact choked on a few saltine crackers in my life. I would say that’s right, but the Mazuri feed that they eat is actually little tiny round pellets. They don’t seem like they would irritate them much. They sleep on straw though, and I wonder if maybe she sucks some of that in and then gets really excited in the mornings and runs around until she has to try and clear her airway. It’s like watching excited toddlers in the mornings here lol.

I know what you mean about them looking like toddlers! I have 2 & 3 year old boys and watching the ducks run out in the morning is same response I get when I open the front door for my boys to play It very well could be the straw I get hay fever and growing up on a farm anytime I moved a bale of hay or straw small pieces would circulate into the air put me into a sneezing fit. I don't even use straw in my coop because I enjoy breathing It would make sense though especially because it's just in the morning once or twice then over with no other signs of respiratory irritation.

 

[AzDuck]

@Isaac 0 this is a video of my male blue runner making a similar noise this evening. He has been drinking, but still seems to have something stuck in there. I put them away early so maybe he will lay down and when he’s more calm he can work out whatever is in there

 

[Isaac 0]

@Isaac 0 this is a video of my male blue runner making a similar noise this evening. He has been drinking, but still seems to have something stuck in there. I put them away early so maybe he will lay down and when he’s more calm he can work out whatever is in there

How long has this been going on?