Abnormal duck poop

[Nicowhi]

My 1 year old duck has been acting a bit weird, he hasn’t been eating his normal pellet food, while my ducklings are still eating it just fine. Recently, I’ve fed him things like live and dried meal worms, peas, lettuce, and a few minutes before the photo pictured was taken, spinach. I just want to know if anyone can give any insight about what the issue is, for about a week all he wanted to eat were the live worms and nothing else. He’s kept inside for now since it’s winter here

 

[Ratchnick]

If he is eating different things the poop will be different.

 

[Nicowhi]

If he is eating different things the poop will be different.

But black? Is that normal?

 

[Ratchnick]

Yeah, black, brown, neon green, white, blue, all normal colors.

 

[Niche Flock]

Yep my ducks eat a lot of greens and veggies along with their pellets, so I've seen a medley of different poops of various colors depending on what they've munched on.

Maybe go easy on the spinach though, as it can interfere with calcium absorption. Keep an eye out for any changes in egg laying, like soft shelled eggs if your ducks do eat a lot of spinach. Maybe switch to kale or other leafy greens just to be safe.

 

[Isaac 0]

My 1 year old duck has been acting a bit weird

he hasn’t been eating his normal pellet food

For a year-old duck, the droppings are very scant and lack in size.
Could you elucidate on the word "weird" is he acting a little lethargic as well?

Birds, where you're unsure whether they're eating enough, should really be weighed daily to ensure they're not losing weight. A small accurate gram scale would be preferred.

If you pick the duck up, and palpate his keel bone, does that feel sharp?

 

[Nicowhi]

Yeah, black, brown, neon green, white, blue, all normal colors.

Thank you! This is my first time having ducks, I feel like a mother to newborns

 

[Nicowhi]

Yep my ducks eat a lot of greens and veggies along with their pellets, so I've seen a medley of different poops of various colors depending on what they've munched on.

Maybe go easy on the spinach though, as it can interfere with calcium absorption. Keep an eye out for any changes in egg laying, like soft shelled eggs if your ducks do eat a lot of spinach. Maybe switch to kale or other leafy greens just to be safe.

Awesome thanks! Unfortunately he’s a male so he won’t be laying eggs, but I will definitely switch to some other leafy greens

 

[Nicowhi]

For a year-old duck, the droppings are very scant and lack in size.
Could you elucidate on the word "weird" is he acting a little lethargic as well?

Birds, where you're unsure whether they're eating enough, should really be weighed daily to ensure they're not losing weight. A small accurate gram scale would be preferred.

If you pick the duck up, and palpate his keel bone, does that feel sharp?

View attachment 2541862

His attitude has been the same, energy level and all that is the same. Normally when it’s feeding time he eats the pellet food without a problem, but as of recently he doesn’t want to eat it in front of me, instead he gets real excited and tries to bite me/mount me/my foot/my shoes. So when I say “weird,” I just mean he’s not acting the same during feeding time, he seems more interested in me than the food (other than the live meal worms which seems to be his favorite), whereas normally he goes right to his dish, eats his food, then comes up to me quacking for more.
His keel feels fine, I’d say between a 3-4 and he doesn’t appear to be losing weight. I’m concerned that his attitude towards feeding time has changed. Ive been leaving food out for him, especially now that I am working again I’m not home as often to be there during feeding time and most of the time when I get back he’s eaten it all. I’m just unsure of why he’s started to act so uninterested in his pellet food.
Thank you for your post btw! I went out and bought a scale and will be tracking his weight daily

 

[Little white duck]

He thinks your a female duck. He's trying to dominate/mate with you. Happens sometimes. Especialy if he just matured. He think he's a full grown drake and is trying to show everyone who's the boss. By attacking you.