Bad Morning.. Any Ideas?

[jlang0977]

As some of you know we had gotten two runner mix ducks from the auction a couple of weeks ago now. They were doing fine and everything but this morning that all changed. My daughter went to go open up their pen so they could come out like normal and only 6 of the 8 ducks came out. Our male was laying flat in the house and had died sometimes between when we put them in for the night and when she had opened it back up. The female he was paired with stayed in the house as well and stayed in the corner so my daughter went in and got her. I took her to work and came back and noticed she was laying next to the fence away from everyone. I went and got her and brought her inside for a bit and she had started acting like her quacky loud self so I brought her back out to the others. I noticed when I put her down, her wings started to droop and she basically collapsed on the ground so I scooped her back up and as I was carrying her back with me she started gasping and was gone within a minute. I find it strange that it was both of them around the same time and none of the others are acting like this.. Could they have had something from where they came from? I cleaned all the pools and cleaned the pen and house right away Like I said they showed no signs and then all of a sudden signs came and they were gone so quick.. Its not hot here, they have plenty of food and water.. No plants they can get to, just grass.. Any ideas?

 

[jducour]

I don't know, but I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for your loss! It's always so sad! I know this is gross, but sometimes it is helpful to do a necropsy. One thing I would be interested in knowing is if they had a parasite. They can cause respiratory failure if they invade the lungs or throat. Since you didn't raise them, there is a chance they were infected long before you had them. If you don't want to do that, you might want to worm the rest of the flock, to be safe.

 

[jlang0977]

I don't know, but I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for your loss! It's always so sad! I know this is gross, but sometimes it is helpful to do a necropsy. One thing I would be interested in knowing is if they had a parasite. They can cause respiratory failure if they invade the lungs or throat. Since you didn't raise them, there is a chance they were infected long before you had them. If you don't want to do that, you might want to worm the rest of the flock, to be safe.

Good to know.. I don't think any of us here are up to doing a necropsy. I'm still hearing my daughter screaming for me to get outside quick I'll pick up some wormer when I go out to pick her up and do that.

 

[cayugaducklady]

I wouldn't want to perform a necropsy on my own.

Some Universities have departments that will perform them for the public. I know the University of Kentucky animal pathology department performed a necropsy for me many years ago . I think it only cost $10.00. Plus, the students were able to learn from it and gain experience before they started their own animal care/pathology careers.

 

[jducour]

Good to know.. I don't think any of us here are up to doing a necropsy.  I'm still hearing my daughter screaming for me to get outside quick   I'll pick up some wormer when I go out to pick her up and do that. 

I understand. I don't think I could do it either, but I might let someone else do it for me. The vet university is a good idea too. I really hope you figure out what it is!

 

[aa3655]

Do you live close to neighbors who might have sprayed insecticide?

 

[jlang0977]

Do you live close to neighbors who might have sprayed insecticide

Good question. Wouldn't that have done all the ducks in though and not just the two that I got from the auction?

 

[aa3655]

Not necessarily. Your current flock might be used to whatever toxin is in their environment. The newbies aren't.

 

[jlang0977]

Not necessarily. Your current flock might be used to whatever toxin is in their environment. The newbies aren't.

Ok, but only 3 of the flock have been here since April and the three others we actually got a week after we got the two that died. It just seems odd to me that these two came to us together and they died basically the same day hours apart. Someone else mentioned possible parasites being the cause.

 

[Debs Flock]

Ok, but only 3 of the flock have been here since April and the three others we actually got a week after we got the two that died. It just seems odd to me that these two came to us together and they died basically the same day hours apart. Someone else mentioned possible parasites being the cause.

Very sorry for your loss. I'm betting it was internal parasites as well. Ducks are very good at hiding illness/injury. Since it seemed to come on so fast & it was deadly, they've probably had something going on before they got to your place. Definitely worm the whole flock with something that takes care of gape worms. You can do a search on here for more info.