Daphne needs prayers!

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I'm very sorry to hear about Daphne. My thoughts are with her, and you, today.

My pet duck, Thimbleberry, also has chronic reproductive issues. Under the guidance of her avian vet we have been able to make environmental changes and "turn off" her laying. Forgive me if I've already shared this with you. Let me know if you want more details, I'm happy to share.

Thank you for your reply! I would love to hear details when you have time I already stay away from artificial lighting, and the decreasing day length will stop Daphne’s laying naturally in 5-6 weeks or so if she can make it that far. I’m also switching to a new diet. I hesitate to lock her away in the dark, although if that would provide temporary relief, I would. How has Thimbleberry been doing with the changes, and how long did it take her to stop laying?

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Thank you all again for your support. Daphne is definitely still a bit under the weather and is straining a bit, but I wonder if that is a side-effect from her reproductive tract flushing + Oxytocin + passing that horrid excuse for an egg. She is, however, hanging out with her sisters and is foraging right now. She’s on an easily digestible Calcium supplement that she will get daily until she’s fully on her new diet. I ordered the food through Chewy.com as it is not available locally. It should be here within a day or two... Now to wait to see if she can pull through.

As a note, she had lost weight at her visit yesterday though she has been foraging/free-ranging a ton more than she did when she last went to the vet and was weighed.

I don’t know. I’m going to go check on her again. Massive hugs of gratitude for everyone!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thank you for this information ❤ My vet recommended changing to Mazuri Waterfowl Maintenance. She said that the Calcium/Phosphorus ratio in her current feed might be contributing to her issues! Do you happen to know if ducks need to be switched over to a new diet slowly like dogs and cats, or can it be done all at once?

The main difference with the feed is going to be the calcium and phosphorus levels. I have never had any issues transitioning ducks from different feed and if she is on a calcium supplement that should help her adjust.

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you for your reply! I would love to hear details when you have time I already stay away from artificial lighting, and the decreasing day length will stop Daphne’s laying naturally in 5-6 weeks or so if she can make it that far. I’m also switching to a new diet. I hesitate to lock her away in the dark, although if that would provide temporary relief, I would. How has Thimbleberry been doing with the changes, and how long did it take her to stop laying?

Thimbleberry's vets advised us to follow 3 environmental changes.

Dietary - Thimble eats mostly scratch and some Mazuri waterfowl maintenance. When she was younger and having reproductive issues she had strictly only scratch. Now that she is older (6.5) they think she needs the extra nutrition. She also forages a little. The theory is that if there is a food shortage it is not a good time to have babies.

Lighting - Thimble has a very strict 10 hour daylight schedule. Every single day. We have a timer on the light in their barn room. We NEVER put them to bed late. We put tar paper over every single tiny crack between the boards that lets light in. The theory is that if it is days are short and it is winter it is not a good time to have babies.

Thimbleberry has two "sisters" and I put them to bed with her. I figured they can take one for team Thimble and go to bed early so that Thimble isn't stressed out and by herself. They are used to it and I don't think they mind.

Hurricane protocol - Daily we destroy all nests built and get rid of eggs (from the other ducks). We allow no dark cozy cubby places for building nests. Frequently, at least once a week, we move all their stuff around. We put their food bowls in entirely different places - like the complete opposite side of the aviary. We put their food storage bins in completely different places. The theory is that if a hurricane just came through it is not a good time to have babies. Yes, the vet told me to do this!

It isn't easy, but we have been doing this for a year and Thimbleberry has never felt better in her entire life. Her vets recommend doing this for her indefinitely as Thimble has had ongoing various reproductive issues for at least 5 years now.

Last summer she was storing dozens of egg follicles in her abdomen in different stages of development, from very small to quite large - but she wasn't actually laying any of them. In addition to that she was very tired. When we went for a walk she could only forage for a couple minutes before taking a nap. After implementing the environmental changes I could see her becoming more alert and having more energy within a week!! There was a remarkable difference in 2 weeks. In 4 weeks at her check up the doctor could see significantly fewer follicles when they performed an ultrasound. In the following months I saw continued improvements in her energy levels. Despite the fact that she is now 6.5 years old I have never seen her so energetic!

We did this a couple years ago as well, but then only for about 5 months. It seemed to just turn her reproductive system right off. She was laying then, but the eggs were getting stuck in her and she was having funky prolapse issues with weird masses, too. She had to have surgery to save her life - they sent us home from the hospital with instructions to start environmental changes and we had no more reproductive issues, until the next spring when the environment was back to normal.

I definitely recommend discussing this with your veterinarian before starting these changes. But it has worked so well for me and Thimbleberry. We really thought she was going to die. The vets told me that it doesn't always work, but that sometimes it does. That if it didn't work we would try hormone injections and implants, and if that didn't work we would try to spay her. But... of course spaying doesn't always work and has complications. I'm just so excited that I was able to find something that helped Thimble. I really hope it can help Daphne, too.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm very happy to help.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Thimbleberry's vets advised us to follow 3 environmental changes.

Dietary - Thimble eats mostly scratch and some Mazuri waterfowl maintenance. When she was younger and having reproductive issues she had strictly only scratch. Now that she is older (6.5) they think she needs the extra nutrition. She also forages a little. The theory is that if there is a food shortage it is not a good time to have babies.

Lighting - Thimble has a very strict 10 hour daylight schedule. Every single day. We have a timer on the light in their barn room. We NEVER put them to bed late. We put tar paper over every single tiny crack between the boards that lets light in. The theory is that if it is days are short and it is winter it is not a good time to have babies.

Thimbleberry has two "sisters" and I put them to bed with her. I figured they can take one for team Thimble and go to bed early so that Thimble isn't stressed out and by herself. They are used to it and I don't think they mind.

Hurricane protocol - Daily we destroy all nests built and get rid of eggs (from the other ducks). We allow no dark cozy cubby places for building nests. Frequently, at least once a week, we move all their stuff around. We put their food bowls in entirely different places - like the complete opposite side of the aviary. We put their food storage bins in completely different places. The theory is that if a hurricane just came through it is not a good time to have babies. Yes, the vet told me to do this!

It isn't easy, but we have been doing this for a year and Thimbleberry has never felt better in her entire life. Her vets recommend doing this for her indefinitely as Thimble has had ongoing various reproductive issues for at least 5 years now.

Last summer she was storing dozens of egg follicles in her abdomen in different stages of development, from very small to quite large - but she wasn't actually laying any of them. In addition to that she was very tired. When we went for a walk she could only forage for a couple minutes before taking a nap. After implementing the environmental changes I could see her becoming more alert and having more energy within a week!! There was a remarkable difference in 2 weeks. In 4 weeks at her check up the doctor could see significantly fewer follicles when they performed an ultrasound. In the following months I saw continued improvements in her energy levels. Despite the fact that she is now 6.5 years old I have never seen her so energetic!

We did this a couple years ago as well, but then only for about 5 months. It seemed to just turn her reproductive system right off. She was laying then, but the eggs were getting stuck in her and she was having funky prolapse issues with weird masses, too. She had to have surgery to save her life - they sent us home from the hospital with instructions to start environmental changes and we had no more reproductive issues, until the next spring when the environment was back to normal.

I definitely recommend discussing this with your veterinarian before starting these changes. But it has worked so well for me and Thimbleberry. We really thought she was going to die. The vets told me that it doesn't always work, but that sometimes it does. That if it didn't work we would try hormone injections and implants, and if that didn't work we would try to spay her. But... of course spaying doesn't always work and has complications. I'm just so excited that I was able to find something that helped Thimble. I really hope it can help Daphne, too.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm very happy to help.

Thank you so much for Your wonderfully detailed answer! I’m so glad that Thimbleberry is doing well. I’m eager to start making changes. I’m sure that her ‘Scovy sisters won’t mind as they are lazy at heart and usually follow Daphne around because she demands it of them Daphne can have extra cuddles with my white ‘Scovy who is her best buddy. Phinny is only 4 and 1/2, and I’m hoping to have many more years with her. Thank you again

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

The main difference with the feed is going to be the calcium and phosphorus levels. I have never had any issues transitioning ducks from different feed and if she is on a calcium supplement that should help her adjust.

Thank you! Chewy.com is usually quick with their deliveries, so I am hoping to get her new food tomorrow

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you so much for Your wonderfully detailed answer! I’m so glad that Thimbleberry is doing well. I’m eager to start making changes. I’m sure that her ‘Scovy sisters won’t mind as they are lazy at heart and usually follow Daphne around because she demands it of them Daphne can have extra cuddles with my white ‘Scovy who is her best buddy. Phinny is only 4 and 1/2, and I’m hoping to have many more years with her. Thank you again ♥

My pleasure!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Thank you! Chewy.com is usually quick with their deliveries, so I am hoping to get her new food tomorrow

Happy to help! I use Chewy for my feeds as well. Not a single store in my area carries a maintenance or all flock feed that isn't high in protein (I found two, but the protein was 19% and another was 20%. I prefer 14-16%).

 

[ducksinvt]

Thank you! Chewy.com is usually quick with their deliveries, so I am hoping to get her new food tomorrow

Were u able to get a 50lb bag of mazuri maintenance fromchewy???? I was only able to get 12lb packages of the maintenance feed, I had to order from mazuri until i got one of my local feed stores to carry it for me, i havnt checked in awhile, thats why I ask!!!

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Were u able to get a 50lb bag of mazuri maintenance fromchewy???? I was only able to get 12lb packages of the maintenance feed, I had to order from mazuri until i got one of my local feed stores to carry it for me, i havnt checked in awhile, thats why I ask!!!

https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-breeder-waterfowl-food-50-lb/dp/248790