bald head duck cause?

[Ruarc]

Our black runners are going bald, skin around eyelids crusting or appearing white (loss of "eyelashes" - tiny feathers??), around where bill attaches to head starting to lighten in color, (possibly swell??). Condition noticed beginning one week ago... We are uncertain if this is a fungus (it looks like fungal infections sometimes do in other animals, including humans), mites, or something else. Their behavior has not been affected (yet) -- appetite still healthy, preening, energy levels all good. However, condition is advancing quickly despite three applications (last three days) of dilute betadine and tea-tree oil solution. The birds are one year old and still laying regularly. Any tips? We are very concerned. (Being super careful to avoid eye contact - but very risky applications. ...though they are cooperative trusting birds.)
Also, (though at first thought possibly balding due to others chewing on head while playing at sex now think not so), some of the neck seems to have more recently starting this balding . It is very difficult for me to determine whether skin is crusty or simply exposed on eyelids, at top of bill. It seems crusty to my slightly fuzzy vision when viewing a not-always-so-still duck. What was black last week(eyelids) appears white now. Balding/thinning areas reveal white skin. Again bill discoloring, and not sure if merely discoloring or actually morphing sort of like human toenails can do when infected with a fungus.
Thanks for any comments, ideas, suggestions, explanations.
Cheers
~Ruarc

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our black runners are going bald, skin around eyelids crusting or appearing white (loss of "eyelashes" - tiny feathers??), around where bill attaches to head starting to lighten in color, (possibly swell??). Condition noticed beginning one week ago... We are uncertain if this is a fungus (it looks like fungal infections sometimes do in other animals, including humans), mites, or something else. Their behavior has not been affected (yet) -- appetite still healthy, preening, energy levels all good. However, condition is advancing quickly despite three applications (last three days) of dilute betadine and tea-tree oil solution. The birds are one year old and still laying regularly. Any tips? We are very concerned.

Can you post some pics? have you seen any mites? do they have swimming water? go ahead and add some ACV to their drinking water so when they wash their faces they are being wash in the Apple Cider Vinegar too. while we try to help you figure this out. just on their faces right?1-2 Tab of ACV added to 1 gal of water.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our black runners are going bald, skin around eyelids crusting or appearing white (loss of "eyelashes" - tiny feathers??), around where bill attaches to head starting to lighten in color, (possibly swell??). Condition noticed beginning one week ago... We are uncertain if this is a fungus (it looks like fungal infections sometimes do in other animals, including humans), mites, or something else. Their behavior has not been affected (yet) -- appetite still healthy, preening, energy levels all good. However, condition is advancing quickly despite three applications (last three days) of dilute betadine and tea-tree oil solution. The birds are one year old and still laying regularly. Any tips? We are very concerned.

Can you post some pics? have you seen any mites? do they have swimming water? go ahead and add some ACV to their drinking water so when they wash their faces they are being wash in the Apple Cider Vinegar too. while we try to help you figure this out. just on their faces right?1-2 Tab of ACV added to 1 gal of water.

 

[Ruarc]

Thanks Lydia,
Here are three photos of three ducks: The first shows fairly well the crusty looking eye's rim on Ruth. It looks worse "in life". Ruth has also been balding some on the head and for the longest time -approaching a week - and recently I noticed her neck has a long thinning area on one side. However in this photo though from this angle that is not readily apparent.

Next we see that Bonnie's bill-base is becoming white and odd looking; in the photo it appears a crescent at the upper base of her bill. We can also observe the thinning of feathers on her head and a wee bit of crust on her eye. She has developed these symptoms in the last 3 days or so. This balding is more apparent "in life" than in photo. Whereas before one could not see white skin through feathers, now one can. Bonnie and Ruth are both balding, Ruth's is a tad worse than what we can see here on Bonnie.

Third photo below shows Anita who has not yet really developed symptoms though now perhaps the faintest balding is just beginning. I show her for comparison as for what the other two looked like last week. (These three usually look so similar it is most very difficult to distinguish them.) She has no bill discoloring, and her eyes look normal.

They have been accepting the vinegar-water you suggested, dipping their heads. Energy and appetite are fine. Each is laying on most days. (They out lay the chickens. I remain utterly amazed at their egg production.) ...( I don't know perhaps this is just coincidence - on earliest notice of beginning balding on Ruth I noticed she (only) was unenthusiastic and lackadaisical avoiding competing for some of her favorite yummy yummies (I offered a handful of snails) and hanging back from group adventures, but sluggish and retiring only for a day or so.)

I applied (diluted!) Tea Tree (in diluted betadine) rubbing this to contact skin (once each day for last thee days). This I thought should slow or stop progress of symptoms, yet symptoms are worsening anyway. I figured neither fungus nor mites would stay with tea-tree oil. See no mites. (And we do routinely rub the coop walls with diatomaceous earth and dust their Timothy-grass bedding with some a bit too.

Question remains: What's going on? more germane: What's the treatment??
I really appreciate the time given and any advice received. Thanks so much.
Cheers
Ruarc

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Lydia,
Here are three photos of three ducks: The first shows fairly well the crusty looking eye's rim on Ruth. It looks worse "in life". Ruth has also been balding some on the head and for the longest time -approaching a week - and recently I noticed her neck has a long thinning area on one side. However in this photo though from this angle that is not readily apparent.

Next we see that Bonnie's bill-base is becoming white and odd looking; in the photo it appears a crescent at the upper base of her bill. We can also observe the thinning of feathers on her head and a wee bit of crust on her eye. She has developed these symptoms in the last 3 days or so. This balding is more apparent "in life" than in photo. Whereas before one could not see white skin through feathers, now one can. Bonnie and Ruth are both balding, Ruth's is a tad worse than what we can see here on Bonnie.

Third photo below shows Anita who has not yet really developed symptoms though now perhaps the faintest balding is just beginning. I show her for comparison as for what the other two looked like last week. (These three usually look so similar it is most very difficult to distinguish them.) She has no bill discoloring, and her eyes look normal.

They have been accepting the vinegar-water you suggested, dipping their heads. Energy and appetite are fine. Each is laying on most days. (They out lay the chickens. I remain utterly amazed at their egg production.) ...( I don't know perhaps this is just coincidence - on earliest notice of beginning balding on Ruth I noticed she (only) was unenthusiastic and lackadaisical avoiding competing for some of her favorite yummy yummies (I offered a handful of snails) and hanging back from group adventures, but sluggish and retiring only for a day or so.)

I applied (diluted!) Tea Tree (in diluted betadine) rubbing this to contact skin (once each day for last thee days). This I thought should slow or stop progress of symptoms, yet symptoms are worsening anyway. I figured neither fungus nor mites would stay with tea-tree oil. See no mites. (And we do routinely rub the coop walls with diatomaceous earth and dust their Timothy-grass bedding with some a bit too.

Question remains: What's going on? more germane: What's the treatment??
I really appreciate the time given and any advice received. Thanks so much.
Cheers
Ruarc

What ever it is seems to be spreading to all three of your girls, I have been looking on line for symptoms and diagnosis but haven't found anything that I can say it absolutely the reason. But I did find this http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/s/00ref/bookref36_fieldmanualofwildlifediseases/15/chapter15.htm maybe it will help I'll keep looking and also hope someone else may see your post and know what this could be, but I keep thinking fungal. What part of the country are you in? or world?

 

[Amiga]

According to Majestic Waterfowl, dehydration, mites and bacterial or fungal infections can cause this.

Can you get them to a vet?

What's the watering system you use?

 

[Ruarc]

Lydia and Amiga,
Thanks so much for responding.
It does seem to be spreading amongst them, yes. I suspect a fungal thing, too, though bacterial seems possible too. ...and I understand tea tree oil should suppress it if it were a fungus OR bacteria...anyway many spp of those. (And mites would be repelled I believe.) I just gave a fourth application. I'm keeping to applying teatree oil until I have good reason to quit. I have considered applying ketoconazole in shampoo form or cream). Looked at Lydia's link, hard to conclude from brief descript there whether ringworm could be culprit.

I shall also consider using "tresaderm" liquid (thiabendazole+dexamethasone+neomycin sulfate) which addresses broad range of dermal infections...but I don't yet know if this be safe for FOWL (we use it on mammals).... I'll be at researching that right away.
Issue is yet nascent, and I'm not ready for expense of vet until I exhaust BackYardChickens.com!

It seems like something I ought be able to control were we to figure out what we're dealing with and what is effective treatment.
I took a magnifying glass to them -my eyes are not sharp- still see no mites BTW.

Amiga asked: Water is simple: small pool and a couple large pans and a handful of smaller containers scattered about all which I dump and rinse every 24-48 hours and then replenish with fresh. They have access to puddles (and even a creek for limited hours ...which remarkably they avoid the actual water most time!! preferring the mud and shallow puddles - they're not keen on swimming), and they have lots of running around time in large area. (They are not confined to small over dirty area - they are cooped only during dark hours.) Dehydration seems rather improbable.
Lydia asked where?: coastal cool mild damp climate of (upper) North Coast California (Arcata).
(And I am confident there should be no deficiencies from their diet - they eat quite well.)

BTW They associate with chickens much of the the day, segregated only a couple morning hours and at night. The chickens are showing no such symptoms.

Has no one else here seen this symptom on their ducks? ? ? ? ?
Appreciate the feedback
Cheers
~Ruarc

 

[Miss Lydia]

Lydia and Amiga,
Thanks so much for responding.
It does seem to be spreading amongst them, yes. I suspect a fungal thing, too, though bacterial seems possible too. ...and I understand tea tree oil should suppress it if it were a fungus OR bacteria...anyway many spp of those. (And mites would be repelled I believe.) I just gave a fourth application. I'm keeping to applying teatree oil until I have good reason to quit. I have considered applying ketoconazole in shampoo form or cream). Looked at Lydia's link, hard to conclude from brief descript there whether ringworm could be culprit.

I shall also consider using "tresaderm" liquid (thiabendazole+dexamethasone+neomycin sulfate) which addresses broad range of dermal infections...but I don't yet know if this be safe for FOWL (we use it on mammals).... I'll be at researching that right away.
Issue is yet nascent, and I'm not ready for expense of vet until I exhaust BackYardChickens.com!

It seems like something I ought be able to control were we to figure out what we're dealing with and what is effective treatment.
I took a magnifying glass to them -my eyes are not sharp- still see no mites BTW.

Amiga asked: Water is simple: small pool and a couple large pans and a handful of smaller containers scattered about all which I dump and rinse every 24-48 hours and then replenish with fresh. They have access to puddles (and even a creek for limited hours ...which remarkably they avoid the actual water most time!! preferring the mud and shallow puddles - they're not keen on swimming), and they have lots of running around time in large area. (They are not confined to small over dirty area - they are cooped only during dark hours.) Dehydration seems rather improbable.
Lydia asked where?: coastal cool mild damp climate of (upper) North Coast California (Arcata).
(And I am confident there should be no deficiencies from their diet - they eat quite well.)

BTW They associate with chickens much of the the day, segregated only a couple morning hours and at night. The chickens are showing no such symptoms.

Has no one else here seen this symptom on their ducks? ? ? ? ?
Appreciate the feedback
Cheers
~Ruarc

Maybe go here and talk to those that have Runners https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/609642/runner-duck-club/440 and I'll keep looking because in the back of my mind I keep thinking I remember someone posting about something similar don't remember what breed of duck but I'll keep looking. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/680171/what-have-you-used-for-fungal-infections

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I adopted a Runner duck last Fall that had come from living with a flock of chickens and she had the crusty eye thing going on. I don't recall any balding however, and she was several years older than yours. I don't really know what it could be, but I hope it clears soon.

 

[Amiga]

I have not seen this on our ducks. Fungal infections, you probably know, can be the dickens to treat, as their cells are so similar to animal cells (eukaryotes). Tea tree oil, oregano, garlic, I have read - if I recall correctly - all have anti fungal properties. I think Epsom salts are also used to treat topical fungal infections. Careful with that, as it is also a laxative.

Then there's miconazole, but I could not find any definitive source to say it's okay for use on ducks.

Here's a reference that includes discussion of tea tree oil. The abstract is free, the whole article may require a subscription. Just an fyi, may be nothing new to you here. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15078424

Another fyi, refers to itraconazole for Aspergillus treatment in waterfowl http://130.88.242.202/medicine/Aspe...aspergillus-web/articlesoverflow/12603775.pdf