Duck is acting very strange

[linen53]

 

[Hunter0704]

What feed are you feeding your chickens and this duck? If it is medicated feed it will kill the duck. What feed did your dad feed him? That could also be the reason for the diahhrea and color. I agree, you must have lots of fresh water deep enough to dip his whole head into to clear his nostrils...this is a must!!! Ducks don't have to have water all the time for swimming, but anytime you can give him water to get into, he will absolutely love it. No matter what the temp is outside. Was he the only duck your dad had? If he was with another duck or ducks, he can also turn depressed and then you'll have more problems. If this happens, you will need to find him a playmate. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Irishluck628]

Okay, sorry it took me a while to get back to everyone, and thanks a bunch for all your help!

It was very greatly needed!
Well, "Howard" is doing MUCH better! He's waddling around and wagging his tail. Head is upright and checking everything out. Not very vocal, just kind of grunts still, but I don't think he was ever a very loud duck. I think he just needed a good long swim and an owner to learn about how to take care of a duck! I got his coop set up the right way now. (I hope) and I used a large soup pot. I buried it into the ground about 6 inches so he could easily dip his head under the water. Although I might have a fun time trying to get it out to change it. I guess I'll find out later tonight....

Now onto the answers to the questions...

Yep, he was my dad's pet that he's had since it was a chick. This was an only "child" but my dad got a plastic duck "playmate" that the real duck likes to sleep next to it and nuzzle it. So I made sure I brought that with me.
I knew this move would be stressful for him, but the way he acted when I first brought him home made me think he would bounce right back. He made himself at home right away! Then 24 hours later, I'm bringing him into the house and worried he might not make it through the night...

When he kept putting his head completely underwater in the bath tub, I was thinking, "Oh crap, maybe he's trying to kill himself!" (Obviously I know nothing about ducks!) Thanks for letting me know that's normal.

We do have a large run but putting the kiddie pool would take up at least half of it, and I don't think the hens would be very happy. So I'm going to take your idea with a stew pot!

The feed my dad gave me was layer pellets, I'm thinking he maybe didn't read the label because this is a boy. The feed I have is Purina Mixed Flock Granulates. It's for a chickens, turkeys and ducks. Pretty much all poultry. Then I mix in some scratch grains. (75% crumbles, 25% scratch) My dad also gave me a big bag of frozen sweet corn that I hand fed him some yesterday morning, but he wouldn't eat nothing last night.

Oh and sadly I know all about "clean water" for poultry. My chickens will poop in it within 5 minutes after I fill their winter waterers. I have to use the rubber bowls with a heater underneath to keep them from freezing. The summer waterers stay much cleaner since it has a hood. But even that gets pretty nasty by the end of the day.

I'll try to post a pic of him soon. He really is a sweet duck. I think he would make a good 4-H project for my kids! Out of curiosity, what is the average life span of a Pekin duck?

And Thanks again everyone for your help!

 

[Irishluck628]

Forgot to add this: Hunter0704- Nope not medicated food.

 

[EmAbTo48]

Average life span is about 10-15 years

The stew pot is a good idea and you could always buy a cheap kiddie pool fill it up once and while and let him go in every few days! Ducks don't need it but they sure LOVE to have a large swimming area!

 

[Irishluck628]

This Howard with his plastic duck mate inside the coop.

Here is Howard with his new flock. (They still aren't sure what to make of him)

He found the ramp that leads to no where...He looks like, "Well this trip was completely pointless."
I don't know why but the chickens love the pointless ramp!

Lastly, his new water bowl. It's actually a lot bigger than it looks in the pic.
As you can see by the headless duck, he can put his head completely underwater!

Hopefully this weekend I can add onto the run and put in a kiddie pool for him.

 

[duckdad]

You;re on the right path...with Howard.

He needs to be able to soak his head at all times. Never allow him to eat without enough water to do this. They (ducks) must have water to swallow and they use water to blow food particles out of their beak nostrils that plug up easily. My drakes nose holes are so big that I thought about putting a gold stud in there ! Not seriously..

I had a young female suddenly get very ill a few weeks ago. No explaination. Same symptoms that you described. Mine got so weak she could not stand, and rolled over and could not get off her back. near gone...
I took her and placed her in a heated box and gave her water with vitamins and cider vinegar. I also reduced the regular store feed and substituted more fresh greens cut fine for easy ingestion. After 2 days of this she started to improve and today is back to her old self, nicknamed the "hairy beast" aka Bug. Since them they ALL get lots more greens, (cabbage or lettuce) and a blend of seeds, rice and the regular mash. With about 30-40% veggies (even fine chopped carrots) and the rest equal proportions they are all much more active, seem happier and playful. Diet is extremely important to a domesticated duck.

Its kinda ironic with the way ducks mess on everything but that is exactly what makes them sick too...wet, moldy areas, wet old feed, anything that has duck poo can start a botulism that they have a very hard time fighting, if at all.
Another thing, ducks won;t show weakness until near death because if they do, then they will get banished,left behind or dominated or just beat up by the flock. In duck society its always about dominance. Never show any weakness. In fact, thats what they (experts) say to train or teach an aggressive drake....get in front of him, extend your arms and start quacking as loudly as you possibly can and carry on as long as you can....this shows the smaller drake that he's met his match and teaches him to back off... and stop trying to attack and dominate others. It works, IF the ducks does'nt die of laughter....Mine sorta looked at me with that cocked head like..."wha...?" ooooook, whatever you say dude.

Your Howard is probably well past all that anyway being an older male. As long as he's not dropped off in the middle of a bunch of females he won;t know the difference and probably won;t start the dominance game. Him being partial to a toy is great...I wish I'd have thought of that. Mine are only happy with me holding them and playing with them, and make quite a fuss when I don;pt give them the attention they seem to think they deserve...
Glad to hear that hes ok and everything is good again. I'm sure he'll be happy with the chickens as companions...thats so very very important to a duck, male or female, to have a companion. They are very social and affectionate creatures and if they do not have someone to "hang out" with...they seem to do poorly health wise and don;t live long.
Sounds like you;re doing fine! Congrats on your new family member...! Howard the Duck...funny movie!

 

[70%cocoa]

The pic with the plastic duck is priceless and a little sad... You know what Howard would really love? A real live lady friend.

You are obviously taking great care of him. But he'd love a girlfriend.

 

[Irishluck628]

At 70%cocoa- I thought the same thing when I was handed his "playmate"......"Awww you've got a plastic friend, that's sad."

As for a duckie girlfriend....my kids already had that idea the 1st minute we had him in the truck.

I told them, "That sounds fun and dandy since your not the ones taking care of it. Why don't we finish out the winter with this 1 duck and we'll see about a girlie duck in the spring."
It's cute to see him wagging his tail trying to play with the chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Trying to play with the chickens is one thing but mating with them is another, I don't want to alarm you but male ducks will try to mate with anything if there aren't female ducks around, and a drake can kill a chicken, totally different anatomy. So be on the look out for more than play, if it does look like he might be getting frisky with the hens just put him on one side of the coop and them on the other with chicken wire for separation. then at least he can still see them. Glad to hear he is feeling better.