Duck losing voice, seems fine otherwise?

[WingsysRoost]

I have a female duck (unsure of exact age as they came to me as adults, but definitely laying age) who started to sound like she was losing her voice about a week ago. At first, I thought maybe an injury, but she isn't acting like she is injured. She has started building a proper nest, rather than just hiding her eggs in random places around the yard/run. When she first lost her voice, I picked her up and gave her a checkup - she seems fine physically other than not having her proper voice. Then, this morning, her voice was worse and she didn’t want to move away from the area of her nest. She sits, and when I go to check on her, she doesn't want to move and just "yells" at me with her raspy voice. I hear maybe they can lose their voice when they go broody. Is this true, or should I be looking at other possible causes at this point?

She is still laying, and I have seen her eat and drink. At one point, she was laying two eggs in a day, though that thankfully seems to have stopped.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I have a female duck (unsure of exact age as they came to me as adults, but definitely laying age) who started to sound like she was losing her voice about a week ago. At first, I thought maybe an injury, but she isn't acting like she is injured. She has started building a proper nest, rather than just hiding her eggs in random places around the yard/run. When she first lost her voice, I picked her up and gave her a checkup - she seems fine physically other than not having her proper voice. Then, this morning, her voice was worse and she didn’t want to move away from the area of her nest. She sits, and when I go to check on her, she doesn't want to move and just "yells" at me with her raspy voice. I hear maybe they can lose their voice when they go broody. Is this true, or should I be looking at other possible causes at this point?

She is still laying, and I have seen her eat and drink. At one point, she was laying two eggs in a day, though that thankfully seems to have stopped.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I had this happen twice
Both times my ducks needed antibiotics
They were still eating and drinking at the time
@Miss Lydia what kind of antibiotics would work ?
I think mine were on amoxicillin
Edit to add
Mine had bacterial infections

 

[Miss Lydia]

If it's bacterial then Baytril https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
The only way to know for sure is with a vet diagnosis but we do understand that is now always feasible.
she does sound broody and her not wanting to leave the nest is typical.
Any other symptoms besides losing her voice?
What breed?

 

[WingsysRoost]

If it's bacterial then Baytril https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10
The only way to know for sure is with a vet diagnosis but we do understand that is now always feasible.
she does sound broody and her not wanting to leave the nest is typical.
Any other symptoms besides losing her voice?
What breed?

I think she's a Pekin, though I can't be 100% certain. She seems to be acting completely fine other than not having a voice. She is usually very difficult to catch and I guess I had a bit of an easier time picking her up this morning, but I can also possibly attribute that to her not wanting to leave her nest because she still seemed alert. Her eyes and nostrils are clear, no visible injuries anywhere, feathers were a bit ruffled this morning but I know that can also happen when they're broody. Her breathing seems okay from what I can tell, no raspiness or labored breathing. I don't think she's lost any noticeable weight.

Is it possible that her voice would change that drastically because she is going broody, or is it more likely to be an infection of some kind?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't ever noticed much change in my Muscovy when broody or not but they don't quack. They will just squeak at me. I have 2 other breeds but neither have ever gone broody.
I'd watch to make sure she is coming out to eat drink and poop sometimes they don't and that can cause problems.

Lets try a few more members.
@HollowOfWisps
@casportpony

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I think she's a Pekin, though I can't be 100% certain. She seems to be acting completely fine other than not having a voice. She is usually very difficult to catch and I guess I had a bit of an easier time picking her up this morning, but I can also possibly attribute that to her not wanting to leave her nest because she still seemed alert. Her eyes and nostrils are clear, no visible injuries anywhere, feathers were a bit ruffled this morning but I know that can also happen when they're broody. Her breathing seems okay from what I can tell, no raspiness or labored breathing. I don't think she's lost any noticeable weight.

Is it possible that her voice would change that drastically because she is going broody, or is it more likely to be an infection of some kind?

My pekin when broody gets louder
But each duck can be different

 

[WingsysRoost]

Thank you for your responses.

I'm very sorry to report that she passed away the same day that I made this post. It seemed very sudden, but in hindsight, I do wonder if she might have been hiding an issue for a while. She had started laying two eggs on some days shortly before this happened. Unfortunately, I'm more familiar with chicken health issues than I am with duck health issues, and must have missed the earlier warning signs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm so sorry to hear this. They really can hide an illness until it's too late.