Dead teal,...help?

[Doctor T]

One of my female ring teal was dead this am. No sign of trauma. She seemed a little thin. I've taken her for necropsy, but vet doesn't feel we'll find anything. The other ring female doesn't look well, and my cinnamon drake is acting strange, trying to hop on top of the water. I have six mandarins, and they all are acting fine.

If anyone has general suggestions of any kind, I would be happy to hear from you. General recomendations would be most helpful.

 

[Alicia G]

Sounds like some sort of contagion is going through your flock. beside quarantine the sick ones and hope the necropsy shows something

 

[chickenzoo]

When we're they last wormed? Grab one and take a listen under a wing for any wheezing or crackles in the lungs. Check area for any moldy feed......

 

[Doctor T]

Thanks for the suggestions.

As expected, Vet says everything looked ok, no sign of problem.
Also, as I was afraid of, the second female died. Everyone else looks and acting fine.

So,....I'm going to drain the pond, change their food, and keep my finger crossed.

Any other suggestions?

 

[La Mike]

What are you feeding them. If they seem thin you may not be giving enough protein or feed in general. All my wild ducks have feed accessible 24/7. Clean water is essential also.
With that said I have had Teal just die for no reason before myself so it may not have been any real reason.

 

[Doctor T]

Quote:
Thanks La Mike! That may be part of it!! I've been feeding Mazuri floating feed once a day, and keeping some Purina flock feed in a feeder free choice, but maybe not enough!! They did seem a little thin.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Avian Tuberculosis can cause them to go from fat and happy down to a feathered breast bone in a week. They will never act sick til they are so far down that they are next to nothing. I happens to all birds. Maybe what you had?? It's usually transmitted by rats getting in the feed. Unfortunately death is the only cure for it.
If they were down to skin and bones, that's most likely what it was...if they were just slim, it wasnt

Hope you get it figured out. Yes clean and bleach that pond and food bowls for sure, it'll help

 

[waterdog]

Quote:
Yep thats is biggest cause I've found for extreme weight loss worms will cause slow weight loss over a longer period of time. We have experienced this from time to time but if we keep the rodents at bay it pretty much goes away. All of our pens have self feeders that are filled weekly, they are up off the ground setting on an inch and a half boards in this space under the feeder we keep rat poision which is checked weekly as well. Since starting this we have had no rat or mouse problems at all. Just make sure the birds can'tet to the poision.

 

[Doctor T]

Quote:
Thanks Aubrey,

They were a little slim, but not skin and bones. Not to say there couldn't be any, but I've seen no sign of rodents. I'm really beginning to think its how I've been feeding, not keeping food free choice. Everyone else is doing well tonight, although they're quite upset about me cleaning the pond!

One other thing, they got access to one of my wife's suet cakes she has for her wild birds, could this have affected them?

 

[Doctor T]

Quote:
Yep thats is biggest cause I've found for extreme weight loss worms will cause slow weight loss over a longer period of time. We have experienced this from time to time but if we keep the rodents at bay it pretty much goes away. All of our pens have self feeders that are filled weekly, they are up off the ground setting on an inch and a half boards in this space under the feeder we keep rat poision which is checked weekly as well. Since starting this we have had no rat or mouse problems at all. Just make sure the birds can'tet to the poision.

That sounds great! Can you give me any details on your feeders; type, etc? I really think my approach to their feed has been all wrong, and I want to learn to do better!