duck's butt hanging low to the ground?

[WannaBeHillBilly]

How does her lower abdomen feel? Soft like a foam pillow - that is normal! Or does it feel hard like a drum, hat would be a bad sign.
@casportpony has started a thread about duck-anatomy a while ago: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-anatomy.1182900/

 

[birb uwu]

How does her lower abdomen feel? Soft like a foam pillow - that is normal! Or does it feel hard like a drum, hat would be a bad sign.
@casportpony has started a thread about duck-anatomy a while ago: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-anatomy.1182900/

What would it mean if it didn't feel like a pillow? because it certainly doesn't feel like one, I would say that the feeling of a pumped up balloon is exactly how it feels in her lower abdomen. Also thank you for the anatomy thread, that was very helpful!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

That doesn't sound right. As far as i can remember, the lower abdomen of my ducks felt squishy and soft, like a foam pillow. The only time it did not, was just before one of my white layers pooped all over me, i should have listened to her, she wanted down… She was telling me "hey i'm full of sh*t, you'd better put me down" but i wasn't listening.
That's a bit confusing, because when there is something wrong with that end of a duck they usually don't behave normal. They sit down a lot, they walk like wearing a full diaper… Maybe @Miss Lydia has an idea.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've had a couple EE's with water belly. But I like to give info on this and let the OP decide if this is her ducks problem.
https://timbercreekfarmer.com/ascites-in-chickens-and-ducks-water-belly/

 

[Miss Lydia]

Egg pouch and belly dragging the ground is most likely 2 different things. If a vet is an option and your concerned it might be ascites I’d take her to the vet. They can show you how to drain if this is the diagnosis.

 

[CindyinSD]

If you have other similar ducks (maybe same breed, sex, age, approximate size) you could try weighing them for comparison—just to give yourself an idea. I would expect water rather than air, but either way it would be very uncomfortable for a human. Animals tend to be tougher, but still...

 

[birb uwu]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm still not entirely sure what the issue is so I'm planning to take her for a trip to the vet sometime soon to get a professional opinion. Since she doesn't seem too worried about it and she's dealt with this issue for as long as I can remember i'm hoping it isnt that big a problem so fingers crossed she'll be okay! Thank you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please let us know what you find out and how she is doing. My 2 hens showed no really serious issues until right before they both had to be put down. It was a slow process.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

And good luck for you and the duck at the vet!
Read about ascites and it sounds terrifying for me. I have some kind of needle-phobia (borderline Trypanophobia) and the perspective of having to poke a needle into one of my ducks belly and suck out liquid just sends cold shivers down my spine…

 

[Miss Lydia]

Me too!