Do you have any ideas to help my duck recovering from an infection eat better?

[KaleIAm]

Hi everyone. My sweet crested Pekin was behaving tired over the weekend, then on Monday she was resting instead of foraging, didn't come when I called her, was not excited about treats, and then pooped blood. I am lucky enough to have a 24 hour avian hospital in my area so we went in.

Her doctor could feel a swollen mass when she gave her an internal exam, that could be infected inflamed tissue, egg bound material, or a tumor. We did a fecal, blood work, and xrays. She had a large amount of white blood cells, so we started her on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They gave her fluids and tube fed her, and she perked up! I left her over night, and picked her up the next day.

We are keeping her inside, per doctor instructions. She is staying in our large bathroom, and nibbling on lettuce, meal worms, and tomatoes. Her favorites. I dug up worms for her yesterday, and she exuberantly gobbled them up. But she is mostly ignoring her Purina layer pellets that she usually eats. Typically she likes them a lot. She is only pooping about 5 times a day - and she usually eats and eliminates a LOT more. She loves to eat normally. I know part of her appetite is diminished because she is stressed and misses her 5 sisters and her coop.

Can you think of a "kibble" type food she might eat? Something super amazing tasty for ducks - besides just freeze dried meal worms.

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone. My sweet crested Pekin was behaving tired over the weekend, then on Monday she was resting instead of foraging, didn't come when I called her, was not excited about treats, and then pooped blood. I am lucky enough to have a 24 hour avian hospital in my area so we went in.

Her doctor could feel a swollen mass when she gave her an internal exam, that could be infected inflamed tissue, egg bound material, or a tumor. We did a fecal, blood work, and xrays. She had a large amount of white blood cells, so we started her on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They gave her fluids and tube fed her, and she perked up! I left her over night, and picked her up the next day.

We are keeping her inside, per doctor instructions. She is staying in our large bathroom, and nibbling on lettuce, meal worms, and tomatoes. Her favorites. I dug up worms for her yesterday, and she exuberantly gobbled them up. But she is mostly ignoring her Purina layer pellets that she usually eats. Typically she likes them a lot. She is only pooping about 5 times a day - and she usually eats and eliminates a LOT more. She loves to eat normally. I know part of her appetite is diminished because she is stressed and misses her 5 sisters and her coop.

Can you think of a "kibble" type food she might eat? Something super amazing tasty for ducks - besides just freeze dried meal worms.

Thanks!

@KaleIAm she should feel like she is at a retreat. lol what a nice tub to be swimming and pooping in.. Antibiotics will also make them not want to eat. You might try some high quality cat kibble mixed in with her layer .My ducks love cat and dog kibble as a treat. But you know how it is when you feel bad somethings just do appeal to you. Just keep trying and hopefully once she is finished with her meds she'll get her appetite back, at least she is eating which is very good.
She is very pretty I hope she begins to feel better real soon.
Please let us know how she is doing.

 

[KaleIAm]

Thanks Lydia! I'll try the cat kibble and keep spoiling her with the snacks. 7 more days of antibiotics!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Lydia! I'll try the cat kibble and keep spoiling her with the snacks. 7 more days of antibiotics!

If you not putting her antibiotics in her drinking water you might want to get a bird probiotic and put into it, antibiotics will kill off good and bad bacteria and putting back the good may help with appetite.

 

[LeannS]

Apple Cider Vinegar is good to put in the water. Also ducks love sourkraut . They both help the digestive system

 

[Amiga]

Miss Lydia wrote my first thought - dry cat kibble. My ducks like Eagle Pak.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@KaleIAm Hows your girl doing?

 

[KaleIAm]

She is much better, thank you! I can't even tell she is sick anymore. We redo blood and fecal on Wednesday. She still isn't gulping down the kibble like she typically does, so I dig in the garden with her for a few hours and she eats all the worms I can find. She is pooping WAY more! I got her avian probiotics, too. I think that is helping with appetite. Thanks for all your support!

 

[Miss Lydia]

She is much better, thank you! I can't even tell she is sick anymore. We redo blood and fecal on Wednesday. She still isn't gulping down the kibble like she typically does, so I dig in the garden with her for a few hours and she eats all the worms I can find. She is pooping WAY more! I got her avian probiotics, too. I think that is helping with appetite. Thanks for all your support!

That is great news.. Let us know what the blood and fecal shows hopefully all clear.