disappointed and sad with Holderread's silver appleyards

[Miss Lydia]

thankyou for being one of the first to agree that this is a breed issue, not my backyard issue. i think i have had about 5 conversations with either dave or millie in the last few months, with dave saying that there were some leg issues that would pop up in a small percent of his large appleyards. i got one of those appleyards, not noticable at hatch but as she grew. does this have anything to do with waterbelly? i don't know.

as far as using chick starter, i never did. vitamin deficiencies should not have occurred as i have been using waterfowl feed this whole time and now they are older, yes, their feed has been limited and protein cut. they have an open air pen with straw bedding and in the back it has walls so they can sleep, the bedding is piled high, tiny solar nightlight. pen is in the shade with a roof under a huge pine, they are on grass and swimming water most of the day.

@ Celtic as far as trying to drain her poor swelled up abdomen, why mention this now when she is already gone? the poor duck couldn't hardly walk, feet turned in, fast labored breathing, stopped eating, hadn't quacked in over a week and she was the loudest duck i had. i don't just willy nilly kill my animals so i don't have to deal with them. research goes into it first to make sure i am making the right decision for that animal. i may be new to ducks but i do have a brain.

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Judy]

Closed at thread starter's request.