Call duck hen with eye issue-HELP!

[daze333]

Hi all,
I have a local country store that has a few animals for the customers fun and education. They have a little call duck hen that is about 1 year old and has been laying. I buy feed at this store and so we are there at least a couple times a week. I noticed about 4 days ago that she was missing the feathers around her right eye. The other eye is fine. I brought some neosporin and put it on her eye. Today I go back and she is curled up in the corner of the pen looking quite lethargic. I asked them if I could bring her home and get her back to health. She was in a pen with a mini-goat as they lost her mate during winter and she didn't want to be alone. So no other birds could have done this to her. There is a chicken pen near by.

So I have the duck hen in my garage bathroom shower, quarantined from all my other birds. I have given her water with ACV and bird vitamin/ eletrolytes and duck food and greens. I also put more neosporin on her eye.

Does anyone know exactly what this is? Here is a pic.

 

[Amiga]

Wish I could give you a good answer.

She may have an infection that has gotten into her bloodstream, in which case she would need oral or injectable antibiotics.

Another possibility is that it is a fungal infection, and oxine would be something to consider.

You are giving her good basic care, good for you for taking her in!

 

[daze333]

Could this be some kinda of mite or bug? I just realized that she does not have swimming water where they keep her, only drinking water. Can this cause bugs to gather on a water bird?

 

[Amiga]

Ducks are at much higher risk of eye problems without proper wash water.

 

[daze333]

Ducks are at much higher risk of eye problems without proper wash water.

Thanks Amiga! I will make sure they giver her some wash water when I return her. I have been told someone named OZ might have some good info? Do you know this user?

 

[Amiga]

Duckyfromoz has experience, knowledge and wisdom that has been a tremendous blessing for me and many others on the forum.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Duckyfromoz has experience, knowledge and wisdom that has been a tremendous blessing for me and many others on the forum.

X2!

 

[daze333]

I want to treat her for the bugs. I dusted her, but it doesn't seem like it can get to the skin with all that down. I have frontline and Eprinex pour on that I have used on chickens, would either of those work on her?

 

[Amiga]

I don't have a quick answer. The problem may be bacterial, fungal, or parasitic. If she is run down, any poison could really challenge her survival.

 

[daze333]

Okay, that sounds reasonable, but then how do I rid her of the bugs? Can I give her a bath? I have heard of people using a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and adding a little soap and vinegar and holding the bird's body under the water to drown the bugs? Should I use Baby shampoo in case she gets it in her eyes? Or Dawn to cut the duck oils? Then I will dry her off with a hair dryer. Should this get rid of most of the bugs? I will try it today and see how it works. Being a duck and she may want to dunk in the water I will use Baby shampoo first. Wish me luck!