Duck Opening and Closing Her Mouth

[Ayi]

The worst possible scenario for me with no vets, none, able to help me because of the avian flu. Called 4 vets this morning. 50 percent of our first batch of ducks 6 years ago succumbed to this through the years. I was so worried about this when we bought more pets this summer. Now one of them is showing the same symptoms of opening and closing her mouth a lot. She sounds a little hoarse but has no visible drainage. Typically our ducks progress to straining to breath, wheezing, unable to walk, and death. We do live in the woods with lots of wildlife, not many birds other than predatory. It turned into a mudbath outside with rain every day and temps 30-40s. We always seem to lose them during the muddy times in early winter or spring. They get fresh herbs, greens, veggies, every day. Colloidal silver, electrolytes, in water and vitamins, dried oregano, sea kelp in organic layer feed. Vinegar in pool water. Everything soap scrubbed and rinsed each morning. Pine shavings changed every 1.5 to 2 weeks. I have some aqua mox on hand, I don't know what else to do. I'd rather treat her than lose her, she is my son's special pet and does little tricks for treats. She is a Golden 300 from Metzer. Any help would be appreciated! I have aqua mox from tsc on hand but no idea of the dosage.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Gape worm or swallowed foreign object??? You can check if gape worms are found in your area.

 

[nuthatched]

They get fresh herbs, greens, veggies, every day. Colloidal silver, electrolytes, in water and vitamins, dried oregano, sea kel

Do they get all this every day? What protein is the layer? What do you do about niacin?
Have you every had blood work or a necropsy done?

 

[Ayi]

Gape worm or swallowed foreign object??? You can check if gape worms are found in your area.

Thank you, I will check! Michigan winter but it has been warm.

 

[Ayi]

Do they get all this every day? What protein is the layer? What do you do about niacin?
Have you every had blood work or a necropsy done?

I give under the dosages I'm pretty sure, they get about 10 cups of food per day, pellets and crumbles, same brand. I sprinkle about half a tablespoon of dried oregano split between 2 feed bowls.
My last batch didn't get sea kelp or vitamins or oregano. A vet receptionist said it's a 3 week wait to see her, but get them out of the mud. Start an antibiotic but she has no idea of course. It's been raining every day and the snow thawed.

 

[ruthhope]

Your ducks are not getting enough niacin on Chicken layer feed. My son insists on feeding his ducks organic chicken layer feed and so I supplement it with brewer's yeast [which they love] at 1 tablespoon per cup of pellets. I buy the brewer's yeast from Josh's frogs, via amazon, in large quantities. (5lb bags)

The other problem if feeding ducks chicken layer feed is that any drake in the flock is getting too much calcium.

I think it is best to feed duck pellets and even then laying female pekins may need extra niacin. My son wants to feed organic food, and cannot find organic duck pellets. I think he should feed his ducks organic chicken grower pellets so that his drake doesn't get too much calcium; add brewer's yeast to the food, and offer crushed oyster shell on the side.

 

[Ayi]

Your ducks are not getting enough niacin on Chicken layer feed. My son insists on feeding his ducks organic chicken layer feed and so I supplement it brewers year [which they love] at 1 tablespoon per cup of pellets. I buy the brewers yeast from Josh's frogs, via amazon, in large quantities.

The other problem if feeding ducks chicken payer feed is that any drake in the flock is getting too muchcalcium.

I think it is best to feed duck pellets and even then laying female pekins may need extra niacin. My son wants to feed organic food, and I think he should feed his ducks organic chicken grower pellets so that his drake doesn;t get too much calcium; add brewer's yeast to the food, and offer crushed oyster shell on the side.

Thank you SO much! We don't have any drakes but my husband is adamant chicken layer feed is fine. I will be getting the brewer's yeast immediately! They haven't been on niacin since they were 5 weeks old. I will order it and I am very grateful for the dosaging information as well!

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you SO much! We don't have any drakes but my husband is adamant chicken layer feed is fine. I will be getting the brewer's yeast immediately! They haven't been on niacin since they were 5 weeks old. I will order it and I am very grateful for the dosaging information as well!

Your husband sounds like my son!!

If you have amazon prime, order through amazon. If you do not, it may be cheaper to order directly from Josh's frogs as 5lb bags are $10 cheaper directly from Josh's but you must pay postage.

https://www.joshsfrogs.com/brewer-s-yeast-5-lbs.html

 

[My6Muscovy]

I have 6 Muscovy - 3 drakes & 3 hens - who have all been very healthy. They get Purina Duck feed along with a sprinkling of brewers yeast or sea kelp and I cut in oats, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, etc. We have bins of each at our local feed store which keep it fairly economical. My understanding is that ducks can make up for an overage of niacin, but the trouble is when they’re deficient. Hope this helps!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 6 Muscovy - 3 drakes & 3 hens - who have all been very healthy. They get Purina Duck feed along with a sprinkling of brewers yeast or sea kelp and I cut in oats, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, etc. We have bins of each at our local feed store which keep it fairly economical. My understanding is that ducks can make up for an overage of niacin, but the trouble is when they’re deficient. Hope this helps!