Duck acting off before egg lay

[Whitsr]

My runners have not laid their first egg yet but should be any day now..Do they act different before doing so? Mine are foragers and are our running around all day. Is there anything I need to do to prepare?

My most crazy duck is the one acting different. A bit slower, not quacking and being her little crazy self as usual. She looks fine but something is off. First time duck owner here so any info about their egg laying would be helpful!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How old are your Runners? When mine started to lay they laid were ever they might be at the time, by the water bucket by the pool in the pool lol running up the hill with everyone. It took them a while to decide laying in their coop was a good option. I don't remember them acting any different before they started to lay though. Now I let them out around 6:45 in the morning and most of the time they have all laid for the day.

 

[Whitsr]

How old are your Runners? When mine started to lay they laid were ever they might be at the time, by the water bucket by the pool in the pool lol running up the hill with everyone. It took them a while to decide laying in their coop was a good option. I don't remember them acting any different before they started to lay though. Now I let them out around 6:45 in the morning and most of the time they have all laid for the day.

They are at 15/16 weeks right now. I do know they will lay anywhere lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL I watched one of mine following the rest up the hill single file and she just dropped an egg as she went. They are pretty funny critters.
I bet they are getting close to laying.

How about some pictures?

 

[Whitsr]

Well I hope today she would be better but she is still acting strange. She's not quacking like she usually does. She's usually the most crazy one but now is running far behind last. Wandering off a bit from the others, is just overall slow and seems distant or out of it. I picked her up yesterday and checked her over, everything seemed fine. Anything else I can check for?
She's the one on the right zoned out.

 

[Whitsr]

My husband did say she has bad breath. I'm wondering if it is sour crop and she was drooling yesterday. Anyways for me to treat or check at home? @Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I hope today she would be better but she is still acting strange. She's not quacking like she usually does. She's usually the most crazy one but now is running far behind last. Wandering off a bit from the others, is just overall slow and seems distant or out of it. I picked her up yesterday and checked her over, everything seemed fine. Anything else I can check for?
She's the one on the right zoned out.

Is she eating and drinking? How’s her poop looking? Possibly she be may have eaten something toxic plants / animals? Have you put out oyster shell yet?

 

[Whitsr]

Is she eating and drinking? How’s her poop looking? Possibly she be may have eaten something toxic plants / animals? Have you put out oyster shell yet?

She is eating and drinking. Haven't seen her poop and keep watching.

Is she eating and drinking? How’s her poop looking? Possibly she be may have eaten something toxic plants / animals? Have you put out oyster shell yet?

Okay so here's latest synopsis. Still acting adrift. Main issues are lagging behind, not quacking nearly as much, seeming distant and out of it.

She is free range and eating grass so it's hard for me to determine if she got into something unknowingly. I still haven't seen her poop. I picked her up and her crop didn't feel much like anything, not soft nor hard, I even compared it to another duck. She also is closing her eyes a lot while standing not when all the other ducks normally sleep.

Her bad breath doesn't seem as prevalent and she is no longer drooling as she was yesterday.

My plan is to :
Let her keep ranging around today. When they go to bed check their crops and provide fresh water with the probiotic below I bought added in (still keeping them together). I can watch further for her poop to see if it's watery I just need to follow them

I'll check crops in morning again so I can make sure to be able to tell the difference of morning to night.

I'm going to order oyster shells and have them by tomorrow and also any other duck emergency things I should keep on hand in emergencies.

I'll check her breath again tonight as well then hopefully by tomorrow morning it's eased or I can determine if it's something else. On a side note, I have never dewormed them should I do that?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Many of us use Rooster Booster, or "Poultry Cell," to help when we have one that is not doing well. Liquid Calcium Gluconate is another good one to have on hand for our females it works to help move an egg that is stuck.
Good idea on checking crops evening and morning.

Here is info on worming Mine get wormed becasue I worm my chickens and they all eat the same food. I am not sure how many worm their waterfowl I have read that waterfowl because of their high body temp are less likely to get worms unless kept in horrid conditions. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/worming-with-safeguard-goat-wormer.1105160/page-4
If you have a vet you could scrap some of her poop separately from the rest of the flock and have them check for worms.

When you get the oyster shell place it close to their feed but not in it they will eat it as they need it.

 

[Whitsr]

Okay thanks on the note for oyster shell. I just ordered Rooster Booster, FlockLeader Recover 911, and oyster shell. She'll be getting all tomorrow. Also bought VetRx to have on hand. I am going to separate her tonight and keep her on the probiotic I bought to get through today. Thanks for all the help!!