Duck death

[Tashwilmot]

Hi. I have a few mallard female ducks and a chicken. The past two days one of the ducks stopped eating, spent entire day in pond, lethargic. Found it dead this morning. Others all well. I live in rural Botswana so vet access not good. What might be the issue? Could I treat the rest of the flock for something just in case? General antibiotic or something? Thanks

 

[ruthhope]

Welcome to BYC

Sorry to know that one of your mallards has died. I realise that is sad for you. Although you do not mention how old your mallard was, from the description of malaise and not eating, she was clearly unwell. Those are very general, non-specific symptoms. There is nothing to suggest the cause of death.

My son has pekins and one of his died unexpectedly this week: she sat down by her swimming pool with the flock but didn't get up, she passed away sat there. We also don't know the cause. So I understand your anxieties.

However, I do not think you should treat your flock with an antibiotic when there is no evidence that the cause of death could have been prevented by using an antibiotic. Over use of veterinary antibiotics is a big reason humans have antibiotic resistant infections.

I advise that you only treat known infectiins with antibiotics

 

[Horse Life]

I recently had a similar incident happen. I put my 3 drakes in their coop one night and when I came to let them out, one of the boys had died. Some people think they got into a fight, but my boys love each other and none of them had any wounds on them, indicating they may have fought. And the boys wouldn't leave their brother's side. It was so sad to see. It almost looked as if he broke his neck because when I found him, he was "looking up"

 

[Horse Life]

I checked him all over for any injuries but he didn't have any. I have no idea what could've happened

 

[ruthhope]

I checked him all over for any injuries but he didn't have any. I have no idea what could've happened

I am sorry for your loss. It's always sad when we lose a beloved duck. His friends' behavior demonstrates ducks have attachments.

We cannot know what happened with your boy withput a necropsy. I prefer not to do that, but just accept nature's cycle of birth, life and death.

Perhaps you will be able to adopt another drake in due course. That way you will not be left with a single lonely boy if one dies.

 

[Horse Life]

I had 3 drakes so now I have 2, but I got them 4 females to keep them company. I know you're supposed to have 3-6 females per male, but one of my drakes is a jumbo pekin so he's never been able to catch a girl, let alone do what they do

 

[Horse Life]

It just bothers me that they were totally safe in their and the other boys were totally fine