Duck not eating or moving!

[tessandherducks]

Hi, one of my ducks has stopped eating and dosn‘t move that much just standing still all day, usually he will run away when I go close to him but is unfazed now and I can pick him up. He is drinking but not swimming which usually he loves to. What should I do? If he is still like this i will take him to the vet but they are closed Christmas and Boxing Day. Can anyone please help? I love him so much and am so worried! @HollowOfWisps @Miss Lydia

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hi, one of my ducks has stopped eating and dosn‘t move that much just standing still all day, usually he will run away when I go close to him but is unfazed now and I can pick him up. He is drinking but not swimming which usually he loves to. What should I do? If he is still like this i will take him to the vet but they are closed Christmas and Boxing Day. Can anyone please help? I love him so much and am so worried! @HollowOfWisps @Miss Lydia

How old is he? Is his crop empty? Is he pooping, if so what does it look like? Is he drinking?
How is the rest of the flock?


Merry Christmas btw, I hope we can figure this out asap.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you answer the question @BelovedBirds has asked hopefully we can help you figure out what is going on.
How long has he been like this? have you tried using warm water and making a soup out of his feed?

 

[tessandherducks]

How old is he? Is his crop empty? Is he pooping, if so what does it look like? Is he drinking?
How is the rest of the flock?


Merry Christmas btw, I hope we can figure this out asap.

He is about 4 months old, how do I check his crop? I am new to duck mum life! He is pooping but very clear watery poop and is drinking a lot. the other ducks are acting as normal and are very happy and eating and preening perfectly. He is just not just not eating, preening or walking around he just stands still all day unless I force him to move which I do to get him in the enclosure at night, although I have kept him in their today so I can keep a close eye on him, was that right to do or do you think that may have stressed him? I am out now with family but will check his crop when I get home if anyone can tell me how to. Thank you and merry Christmas

 

[tessandherducks]

If you answer the question @BelovedBirds has asked hopefully we can help you figure out what is going on.
How long has he been like this? have you tried using warm water and making a soup out of his feed?

I made duck food soup and he did try it but then straight away went over to his water and stayed there. How do I use the warm water? In the duck food soup? all the other ducks loved the duck food soup and so he didn’t really get a chance to try it as they pushed him out the way! I will try again when I get home but without the other ducks around.

 

[BelovedBirds]

He is about 4 months old, how do I check his crop? I am new to duck mum life! He is pooping but very clear watery poop and is drinking a lot. the other ducks are acting as normal and are very happy and eating and preening perfectly. He is just not just not eating, preening or walking around he just stands still all day unless I force him to move which I do to get him in the enclosure at night, although I have kept him in their today so I can keep a close eye on him, was that right to do or do you think that may have stressed him? I am out now with family but will check his crop when I get home if anyone can tell me how to. Thank you and merry Christmas

If you feel the crop very gently (at the base of the neck, slightly to the right side on the front), does it feel hard, or soft and full, or flat?

I expect its empty, I'm really just ruling out an impacted crop which I don't think is likely.
The clear poop is okay, pretty much to be expected, but it helps narrow this down a little.

I made duck food soup and he did try it but then straight away went over to his water and stayed there. How do I use the warm water? In the duck food soup? all the other ducks loved the duck food soup and so he didn’t really get a chance to try it as they pushed him out the way! I will try again when I get home but without the other ducks around.

Yes, just mix the warm water with their feed to create a soupy mash. I'd try offering the soupy feed mix to him ASAP and ensure there's no ducks around to bully him away. Do they prevent him getting the food? You may want to try adding a second feeding station to their area if so.

 

[Miss Lydia]

When offering warm soupy feed just do small portions. Of course having other ducks to do clean up once he has eaten his fill also helps.

I hope he'll eat for you with the frigid temps we all have been having food is what keeps them going.

 

[tessandherducks]

I gave him the soup and he did eat a little bit while the others weren’t there but didn’t eat too much but I am happy he has at least a little bit of food and then I let the other ducks in and they finished it after he had stopped eating. I am going to feel the crop now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You might want to look into tube feeding if you can't get him to eat. They can go downhill super fast if not getting enough nourishment. We have info on what you need and how to do it.

 

[tessandherducks]

I really couldn’t feel anything when checking the crop, don’t know if I am doing it wrong . Gave him some more soup but he just drinks the top part as it is more watery and then shakes his head trying to get rid of the food. Is their anything I can add to the food such as supplements or something? I can go pick them up from our local feed shop tommorow! I am super worried about him and am just thinking about the worst