Depressed duck please help

Date sort Score sort
1st time

1st time

In the Brooder
Jun 30, 2015
75
1
43
Virigina
I'm sorry this is a little lengthy. I have khaki campbell ducks. We had 2 males and 4 females. I have asked for yall advise about different things and I need your help again. Our alpha male died suddenly a couple weeks ago. He was in the kiddy pool and the last I glanced at him it looked as if he was sleeping in the water. Maybe 6 inches deep. There was 1 female that we now call Daisy. She was around him when what ever happened. My youngest daughter found him floating upside down dead about an hour after I seen him sleeping. We have no idea what happened. Our 2 males never faught that I know of. Well I went out to get my daughter but she met me just after getting outside and she was caring him and crying. I barrier him right away. I had little time as my daughter needed to be at camp soon. I noticed after barring him Daisy was quaking and walking fast back and forth from run to coop and back again. I assumed she was looking for him. As time went on we noticed she would lag behind all of the others and still do. I feel like some times she singles herself out and pouts. Over this weekend I have kept my ducks and 8 chickens in the run for longer periods of time because it is about time they start laying eggs which I have found 2 broken ones with the inside gone. I have about 1600 area of mostly woods that they have been free to roam but it's not my land. They have been going for at least an hour or two and we have no idea where they were. So as I would keep them in the run longer. Today was the longest due to my daughter going to school. I still open their coop door at aprox 6am and when my daughter gets home at 3pm she let's them out. This evening as I went to the run (the gate was open most of everyone was in the run Daisy was laying in the corner like she was in time out. I believe she is eating and drinking but I'm afraid I'm going to lose her too. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
 
She could be depressed about losing the drake, or she could have an infection. If you can get her to a good duck vet that would be best.

Have you given her poultry vitamins or done anything to try to boost her immune system?
 
No. I am all new to ducks as this is my 1st time raising them or any type of live stock. Can you recommend what kind of vitamins and how to give.
 
1st time said:
No. I am all new to ducks as this is my 1st time raising them or any type of live stock. Can you recommend what kind of vitamins and how to give.
Click to expand...
If you have a TSC close you can get Poultry Nutri Drench they also have other vitasmins for poultry too but I really like Nutri drench it works fast. If an infection you may need an antibiotic but not knowing what kind of infection it is hard to say which antibiotic would be best, so for now get the vitamins put into their drinking water, Make sure she is eating and drinking, you may have to separate her if she isn't so you can really give her some TLC, How are the others treating her? Best way to observe what is going on is to sit quietly by and watch them is she interacting with the other ducks is she noodling around looking for bugs etc. eating drinking well. How old are your ducks, you say about to lay so around 5 months? could they have gotten into something toxic when in the woods/ dead animals or stagnant water ?we have recipes for flushes to get rid of toxins if you think that is a possibility.
 
It all started when she was with the other male when he died because she was acting like she was freaking about it. Walking fast back and forth quaking like she was calling for help or calling him. I think or you could say she was his mate. After that she kinda lagged behind like a slow poke. I have seen her eat and drink. How much I'm not sure. The others don't seem to pick on her but of course the 1 male has his turn with the ladies. The other day we were watching them the females tried to mate with each other in the kiddie pool (is this normal). The we're hatched aprox 5/2/15. I was told and read they can start to lay about 18 to 20 weeks. With them going in the woods I am not sure how far they go. I don't notice any foul oder from a dead animal but that doesn't mean anything. We have a couple ponds near us that feed into the same creak as well as our natural spring in our yard that the get in and drink from for the last couple months. I guess it could be possible she could have gotten into something but not only her but all the other ducks and 8 chickens stick together. They all go off for a while. Can they be heart broken to witness the death of a mate and be like this?
 
Last edited:
1st time said:
It all started when she was with the other male when he died because she was acting like she was freaking about it. Walking fast back and forth quaking like she was calling for help or calling him. I think or you could say she was his mate. After that she kinda lagged behind like a slow poke. I have seen her eat and drink. How much I'm not sure. The others don't seem to pick on her but of course the 1 male has his turn with the ladies. The other day we were watching them the females tried to mate with each other in the kiddie pool (is this normal). The we're hatched aprox 5/2/15. I was told and read they can start to lay about 18 to 20 weeks. With them going in the woods I am not sure how far they go. I don't notice any foul oder from a dead animal but that doesn't mean anything. We have a couple ponds near us that feed into the same creak as well as our natural spring in our yard that the get in and drink from for the last couple months. I guess it could be possible she could have gotten into something but not only her but all the other ducks and 8 chickens stick together. They all go off for a while. Can they be heart broken to witness the death of a mate and be like this?
Click to expand...
Yes, ducks can grieve deeply. We almost lost Romy days after Michele died.
 
I think you all for the advise. But my daughter called me today after she hot home daisy was unable to stand on her own and she took her out of the run and she died in her arms. Everyone else is eating drinking and noodling as they have been all along. I think she was deeply greaving.
 
1st time said:
I think you all for the advise. But my daughter called me today after she hot home daisy was unable to stand on her own and she took her out of the run and she died in her arms. Everyone else is eating drinking and noodling as they have been all along. I think she was deeply greaving.
Click to expand...
I am so sorry for your loss.
hugs.gif
 

Similar threads

T
    • Like
Is my duck sick?
Replies
5
Views
205
Jenbirdee
Jenbirdee
H
Duck biting blood feathers.
Replies
3
Views
497
ChickenScratchFeathers
ChickenScratchFeathers
H
    • Like
Duck drowning another?
Replies
4
Views
315
CoriM
C
D
Male duck goes after rooster
Replies
4
Views
529
baikal7
baikal7
W
    • Sad
One Duck Being Picked On
Replies
2
Views
529
ruthhope
ruthhope

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom