Duck often lying alone...

[arrowti]

So it may be nothing, as Fatty used to lie on her own but I'm also worried because the cayugas are almost always together, or at least, in pairs.

I'll often go out and see four ducks at the pools and 1 duck lying in the grass on the other side of the pasture... I go over to check on her and she gets up, quacks at me, waddles around and finds the others and does what ducks do.

I'm assuming it's the same duck although I can't tell for sure since 3 of the females look exactly the same.

She eats. She drinks. She plays in the pool. The other ducks are acting normal around her.

She lays down in the hay and always checks each egg with her bill. Maybe she's feeling broody but hasn't yet 'become' broody? Her poop is normal and she isn't limping or anything! They're two years old now.

Any ideas? The sun schedule is starting to shorten as well. Maybe she's effected by that and is sleepy a lot..

 

[Amiga]

So is this new behavior for her? The worst case I can think of is egg yolk peritonitis, a systemic infection. That can start out looking like she's a little run down, not as involved with the flock, has a far-away look. Then not being able to walk without stumbling, reluctance to stand and walk.

I would consider taking a fecal sample to check for parasites, give her some vitamins in her water once a week, and just keep a close eye on her. A vet visit might help. but the symptoms can be difficult for vets to diagnose as well.

Still, some vets can pick up on it. I know of at least one case cured with antibiotics. Tube feeding was needed as she had lost her appetite, but she made full recovery.

 

[arrowti]

I'm not completely sure if it's 'new', as previous to this we've always had at least one female off somewhere, but most of the time they're laying on an egg or laying in the shade somewhere.

We'll add some vitamins to their water right away, and I'll keep a close eye to see if there's anything going on. Not sure about getting a fecal sample... their poop runs straight into the ground!

We've been getting 3-4 eggs a day from our 4 females. All of them are participating in mating behaviour...

She's not 'always' on her own. I guess the best way to describe it is she's with the others, sleeping, and when they get up to eat or drink she doesn't notice and is still taking her nap until she wakes up, realizes she's alone, and takes off. That, too, is something our pekin used to do. I wish I could tell the difference between the three females. It could just be a different one each time I see it making me think it's the same one..

 

[Amiga]

You might consider getting her a nice, fashionable, comfortable ankle bracelet for now, so you can monitor her. I find that the Velcro Wraps sold in office supply stores work great, soft side in.

Sieben is kind of like that. Just sleeps very soundly, sometimes we have to wait for her to get with the program. And she has always been just on her own trajectory. I'll do a head count, and at least half the time if there is one duck missing, it's Sieben, either napping or investigating something on her own.

Speaking of Sieben, she was feeling puny this evening when I brought them in for the night, so I'm going downstairs to check on her.

Sieben a few years ago.

 

[arrowti]

Sieben's beautiful! I love that speckled colouring on birds!

Will check around for those leg bracelets and see if I can catch her to put one on. Our ducks don't like being held, and only Opie can be caught when he's attacking our dog! I'll keep a close eye and see what's going on in the meantime. It's not like she's the 'only' female to be napping and not get up, I've seen another female, one who I more commonly associate with being independent (also the only female that is tell-apartable) hanging out or going off on her own.

I'm probably just overly-concerned because of stress right now (if I see anything lying by itself and I immediately think it's dead), but better safe than sorry... especially with these silly ducks.

 

[Amiga]

Thanks, Sieben's head and neck are now nearly solid white. And her black feathers shimmer with highlights of purple and green in the sunlight.

She passed a soft egg, and is feeling much better - really enjoyed the cat kibble treats I offered her. I need to keep up with the extra calcium, I see. They always have free choice crushed oyster shell as well as layer feed - and this time of year they can still be a little calcium depleted.

 

[arrowti]

So far so good... I've observed the ducks and noticed that a lot of the females will go off alone to eat, drink, or lay down (never noticed before). The drake always travels with at least one female but the females seem perfectly comfortable by themselves on the pasture but will eventually get up and join the others.

We're having a massive rainstorm now too and they're enjoying that, all together!

That's one worry gone. Our dog had a seizure this morning (she's epileptic) so it's good to see the ducks are doing good.