Desperate: Dying Duck

[peepinglaura]

My kids and I are away visiting family. My husband just called with bad news. One of our 2 Peking ducks ( my young son's pets) seems very very sick and dying.

He is not sure if it is the male or female. They were absolutely fine this morning, coming to the kitchen door looking for snacks, playing, quacking, swimming. Then, rather suddenly, this duck started tipping while walking, then just sat down and wouldn't get up, eat or drink. It wouldn't budge as my husband used power tools b#next to it. He felt for troubles with the vent and found nothing that would indicate a stuck egg. There was no hard mass or any detectable abnormality.

The ducks just recently reached sexual maturity, and began mating with each other about 10 days ago. They free range with chickens.

I would do just about anything to save my son's pet.

Any help would be so appreciated.

Thanks,

Laura

 

[waibel zoo]

I don't know, other then isolate it, make sure it is warm, has food and water and watch for other signs of illness.

 

[peepinglaura]

We do indeed have it isolated with food and water. I soooo want this duck to live!!! I wish there was more I could do. I have no idea what could cause such a sudden change. (??)

Laura

 

[waibel zoo]

Look around your yard was there anything wet or stagnant the duck could have gotten into. I just went through botulism with one of my chickens. Is the duck drinking or eating? Even if offered a favorite treat? Are there any other symptoms?

 

[peepinglaura]

Funny you should mention botulism. Here's the thing:

While I agonized all night over how to tell my son the bad news, my husband put the duck in isolation from the chickens, but let the duck mate join it because they are miserable apart (I know complete isolation is better but my husband was doing what he could alone with this emergency).

This morning, he went to the barn extra early, expecting to find one dead duck and one sad duck. He found both ducks waddling around as happy as could be, full of energy, quacks, and cheer. Very sudden onset, very speedy recovery. I have nooo idea what the heck went on here.

Botulism surely would have been fatal (right?

) but I'm wondering if a milder form of food poisoning was responsible. We feed a lot of scraps- maybe the birds missed a piece, and the duck found it later, mouldy.
Waibel Zoo, how did you determine it ewas botulism?

Laura

 

[waibel zoo]

My chicken did not die. I determined botulism because there were no other symptoms. She just stopped coming out of the coop, then got weaker and weaker until she could no longer hold her head up. I started to syringe feed and water her then. I though she was egg bound at first. I kept soaking her in warm water. When she got worse someone else suggested it. THat was all I could think it was. She was sick for days. I did have some food get wet a few days prior. I did change it as soon as i found it, but I think it made her sick. She is fine now, running about. I am glad your duck bounced back.

Brenda