Ducks constantly sick

[saschoey]

Hi all,

I have been taking my runner duck and mallard to the bird vet every 6 months for checkups - especially because my runner suffers from low calcium and needs an implant every 6 months to stop her laying eggs.

However this is not the only problem, it seems they both always have something (mostly my runner) e.g. giardia, e.coli. It is almost every time I go to the vet that they are diagnosed with one of these even though I take very good care of my ducks (they are pets, not livestock). As a result I am spending at least $500aud per visit, most recently $900aud for xrays, poop samples, the implant, and other minerals and medications they tell me I need to buy all the time that I need to mix in with their food and water every single day.

I have to admit I am getting a bit skeptical (about everything except the calcium deficiency) as I am a young looking female on my own and worried am I being ripped off by this vet. My ducks are never physically sick and never show any signs of not being completely fine except my runner's calcium deficiency. They are very energetic and have big personalities.

Are these all common problems for ducks? Why are mine constantly 'sick'? Do you think the vets are ripping me off/exaggerating these problems? I have always paid for whatever they suggest as obviously I would pay anything to have them not be sick.

 

[nuthatched]

Hi there.
If your birds don't act sick, I'd be a bit suspicious as well.
Did your vet try anything to raise the runners blood calcium levels before the implants? Have you been told how serious of a bacteria load the ducks have? Are you able to see any other vets to confirm?

 

[nuthatched]

I'm going to tag a few folks to see if they know but they might not be on right away, most are in North America.
@Canadian Wind @ruthhope

 

[ruthhope]

I don't get my ducks checked by a vet as there isn't an avian vet in my county and the "exotic bird" vet in the county to my north charges $300 just to make an appointment with extra charged for care treatment and prescriptions.

So I go by how well my ducks are: eating, drinking, pooping, maintaining body weight, and activity.

No symptoms, no worries, no treatment needed!

I rescue abandoned ducks and have not needed to take one to a vet [yet]. The rescues have been in poor condition but have responded to good food, plenty of clean water for drinking and bathing, and a clean quarantine environment [completely separate from my own flock, often in my house.] All have done well and none have developed symptoms that needed a vet.

I care for my ducks, and my son's ducks, using medications from Tractor Supplies:

Nutridrench or Rooster Booster vitamins when rescued in poor condition and for laying females

Calcium Gluconate for laying females that get thin-shelled eggs even when oyster shell freely available; and I would use but haven't needed to Durvet High level Vit B complex for leg/gait problems. My drakes all eat duck pellets; my son's females eat organic layer feed formulated for chickens and so get supplementary brewer's yeast with the pellets.

@saschoey you have to make the decision about treating your ducks. I can only say what I do. How did your duck's very low calcium show up? Reproductive problems? Life threatening? [I ask, because my son's females started laying soft shell eggs after a full year of laying. We give them calcium gluconate to rectify the problem

 

[saschoey]

I don't get my ducks checked by a vet as there isn't an avian vet in my county and the "exotic bird" vet in the county to my north charges $300 just to make an appointment with extra charged for care treatment and prescriptions.

So I go by how well my ducks are: eating, drinking, pooping, maintaining body weight, and activity.

No symptoms, no worries, no treatment needed!

I rescue abandoned ducks and have not needed to take one to a vet [yet]. The rescues have been in poor condition but have responded to good food, plenty of clean water for drinking and bathing, and a clean quarantine environment [completely separate from my own flock, often in my house.] All have done well and none have developed symptoms that needed a vet.

I care for my ducks, and my son's ducks, using medications from Tractor Supplies:

Nutridrench or Rooster Booster vitamins when rescued in poor condition and for laying females

Calcium Gluconate for laying females that get thin-shelled eggs even when oyster shell freely available; and I would use but haven't needed to Durvet High level Vit B complex for leg/gait problems. My drakes all eat duck pellets; my son's females eat organic layer feed formulated for chickens and so get supplementary brewer's yeast with the pellets.

@saschoey you have to make the decision about treating your ducks. I can only say what I do. How did your duck's very low calcium show up? Reproductive problems? Life threatening? [I ask, because my son's females started laying soft shell eggs after a full year of laying. We give them calcium gluconate to rectify the problem

Thanks ruthhope, do you ever get concerned about e.coli or treat it? I know nothing about e.coli.
I knew she had egg/calcium problems because she lays weak/broken eggs sometimes which I think can be life threatening. The vet also showed me an x-ray and said she has low bone density. Other than that I have seen no evidence of any problems especially in my mallard... I was especially suspicious when the vet said my shy runner being "scared" at the the vet was a symptom of giardia!!
I think I will use up all the minerals and medication I bought and then just monitor them myself... I will have to look for Calcium Gluconate.

 

[saschoey]

Hi there.
If your birds don't act sick, I'd be a bit suspicious as well.
Did your vet try anything to raise the runners blood calcium levels before the implants? Have you been told how serious of a bacteria load the ducks have? Are you able to see any other vets to confirm?

He didn't say he did anything to raise her blood calcium levels before implants. As for the bacterial load I get the impression it is small, they're not specific, but just say I need to go buy antibiotics.

I think I may need to look for another vet, as these guys don't specialise with ducks, mostly budgies.

 

[ruthhope]

Thanks ruthhope, do you ever get concerned about e.coli or treat it? I know nothing about e.coli.
I knew she had egg/calcium problems because she lays weak/broken eggs sometimes which I think can be life threatening. The vet also showed me an x-ray and said she has low bone density. Other than that I have seen no evidence of any problems especially in my mallard... I was especially suspicious when the vet said my shy runner being "scared" at the the vet was a symptom of giardia!!
I think I will use up all the minerals and medication I bought and then just monitor them myself... I will have to look for Calcium Gluconate.

I do not get concerned about e coli

I am generally concerned about ducks and salmonella, and so we thoroughly cook our duck eggs but don't "treat" the ducks.
We have not had my son's females Xrayed and so don't know about the state of their bones.

We do know that they are laying fragile shelled eggs, and that this can be a precurser of more serious reproductive problems, so we are treating them with Calcium Gluconate -- 1 ml orally, daily at the moment

Giardia causes malabsorption and if a problem in your ducks you would have abnormal poops and ducks that are losing weight and failing to thrive.

Is there any possibility that you could get a second opinion on the care plan for your runner duck that has had calcium problems? I am reluctant to say more than what I do for my and my son's ducks. You need another vet to help you develop a long term plan for a duck that has had fragile eggs in the past and apparently has low bone density.

What are you feeding your ducks? If I had females, they would be on duck pellets with oyster shell on the side. My son insists on feeding his ducks organic layer pellets formulated for chickens as we eat the eggs. The pellets are deficient in niacin for ducks and so he has to give supplementary brewer's yeast. Since the fragile shelled eggs from earlier this year, he has given oyster shell on the side. The females' ducks bills have gone quite "faded" after a year of laying and so they are also getting rooster booster vitamins in their water. Their plummage is beautiful -- lovely white pekins. They are running around living very active, noisy (!), happy lives

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I would say the vet is taking advantage
How old were the ducks when you first got them ?
Did you ever add nutritional yeast to their feed if they were young babies ?
I give my newly hatched until 10-12 weeks 1tbs of nutritional yeast per cup of feed to help with growth
I also add it in the feed a few times a week for the adults
You could try this
Also do you provide crushed oyster shells to help with calcium ?
Some birds have laying issues and need the extra help like your one girl
My ducks are shy at the vet too
They get scared of anyone new

 

[Canadian Wind]

Well, @ruthhope has pretty much covered anything, and more, that I would have said!

I believe, and I may be misremembering this, that e. coli is a natural part of the gut flora and is only a concern when it goes over a certain level. You can also save yourself a LOT of money by getting supplements and minerals from a feed store, or even a pet shop. Vets make the bulk of their money on this. Prescriptions can also be filled by a regular pharmacy for a fraction of the cost, at least here in North America.

The only knowledge of Australian vets I have is Bondi Vet, and I might be willing to give Chris Brown a bit of extra to do a house call, lol!

@Muscovy Wunda , what's your experience with vets there?

 

[KaleIAm]

I take my own pet ducks in for check ups. Over the last 7.5 years I have had 6 ducks and they have all had issues. These range from bumblefoot to cancer, and plenty in between. I have used several avian vets and I have found them to be incredibly valuable. Sometimes they save my pet's life. Sometimes they can't. That being said I probably could have bought a house for how much money I've spent. But, that was my choice. My ducks have been rather medically fragile, as have other people's that I have talked with. My vet explained to me that ducks have been bred to be food producing animals, eggs/meat/both. And that producing that many eggs and being so heavy is not healthy for their bodies. Also, the breeders don't need them to live for more than 2 years. Which, of course, is very sad for the ducks and us.

Working with a vet who has experience with ducks is important, as ducks reproductive systems, natural parasite load, and more, are different than that of parrots and other typical pet birds.

Your human relationship with your vet is also important. So, while you might be able to save $20 if you purchase some calcium online it might not actually be worth it. Also, depending on your flock size some online purchased medications will likely expire before you have the opportunity to use them entirely, so buying smaller quantities from the vet can be cheaper.

I hope your sweethearts start to feel better soon. I understand how difficult it is.