Ducks stopped laying

[KDee]

My two Indian runner girls have been laying steadily for a couple of months now, but suddenly stopped 6 days ago. One of them has an injured foot, so we had her out of the run for a day and to the vet, so now she’s on anti-inflammatory until they figure out how to help her foot - the end of one of the bones, at the first knuckle has totally dissolved - the vet wasn’t sure how it could happen, or if the duck would be able to walk if she amputated it, so she’s waiting to hear back from a specialist - anyways, that is the only different thing that has happened, and they have been acting totally normally…just no eggs. Any ideas on what I can do to help them along? Also, has anyone else had a problem like the one my girl has with her toe? Can a duck walk and carry on properly if they amputate the toe? ( it’s the outside toe) Thank you for any insight!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Do you only have two ducks? If so I would be that the stress from being separated is why they have stopped laying. If a hen is stressed they will often stop laying until they settle down.

 

[KaleIAm]

Ducks can stop laying due to stress. I don't know if that's what is going on with your ducks. It seems to me that it could be a cause with the duck that went to the vet but less likely with the one that didn't - unless her environment has changed as well. Has their daylight length changed?

Unfortunately I do have experience with a duck toe bone dissolving. At the moment I am waiting for histopathology results from the lab, which will hopefully give us answers as to why that happened to my duck. I will share those with you when we hear back. Of course, the reason for your duck's issue could be different. Suspected reasons for us have been bacterial, fungal, and cancer.

Our avian vets recommended amputating my duck's toe for diagnostic reasons. I was very worried about her getting around as she had arthritis and was already clumsy and painful. They said they have done it in other ducks who usually do very well. For my duck it was the inside toe.

 

[KDee]

Do you only have two ducks? If so I would be that the stress from being separated is why they have stopped laying. If a hen is stressed they will often stop laying until they settle down.

I have two females and a male, and a couple of chickens... I actually have 5 day old ducklings that will eventually be out there with them.

 

[KDee]

Ducks can stop laying due to stress. I don't know if that's what is going on with your ducks. It seems to me that it could be a cause with the duck that went to the vet but less likely with the one that didn't - unless her environment has changed as well. Has their daylight length changed?

Unfortunately I do have experience with a duck toe bone dissolving. At the moment I am waiting for histopathology results from the lab, which will hopefully give us answers as to why that happened to my duck. I will share those with you when we hear back. Of course, the reason for your duck's issue could be different. Suspected reasons for us have been bacterial, fungal, and cancer.

Our avian vets recommended amputating my duck's toe for diagnostic reasons. I was very worried about her getting around as she had arthritis and was already clumsy and painful. They said they have done it in other ducks who usually do very well. For my duck it was the inside toe.

Thank you so much for your input! Nothing in their environment has changed other than that I put some straw down in the run so that it would have a little more cushion for the one with a sore foot…these girls are both only about 10 months old. I would definitely appreciate hearing back from you after you hear from your vet, that would be very helpful.

 

[KaleIAm]

Thank you so much for your input! Nothing in their environment has changed other than that I put some straw down in the run so that it would have a little more cushion for the one with a sore foot…these girls are both only about 10 months old. I would definitely appreciate hearing back from you after you hear from your vet, that would be very helpful.

I got the histopathology report last night. I felt a little surprised with the results, it was all a physical degenerative condition. My duck was at least 7 years old.

She had inflammation of the tendon sheath, and severe cartilage deterioration. Since cartilage was missing bone was grinding on bone until it wore away.

We knew she had arthritis, but we didn't know how bad it was. We have x-rays, then two weeks later another set. The bone deterioration between the two x-rays is remarkable. The vets thought that because it happened so quickly it was bacterial, fungal, or cancer.

Metacam helped my duck with her pain a lot and I'm glad we were able to give that to her. Also reducing her activity levels and giving her very soft surfaces. We also built her very short steps as climbing/jumping became painful/impossible for her.

I also considered getting a wheel chair for her.

https://www.handicappedpets.com/walkin-wheels-duck-wheelchair/

How is your duck doing?

 

[KDee]

I got the histopathology report last night. I felt a little surprised with the results, it was all a physical degenerative condition. My duck was at least 7 years old.

She had inflammation of the tendon sheath, and severe cartilage deterioration. Since cartilage was missing bone was grinding on bone until it wore away.

We knew she had arthritis, but we didn't know how bad it was. We have x-rays, then two weeks later another set. The bone deterioration between the two x-rays is remarkable. The vets thought that because it happened so quickly it was bacterial, fungal, or cancer.

Metacam helped my duck with her pain a lot and I'm glad we were able to give that to her. Also reducing her activity levels and giving her very soft surfaces. We also built her very short steps as climbing/jumping became painful/impossible for her.

I also considered getting a wheel chair for her.

https://www.handicappedpets.com/walkin-wheels-duck-wheelchair/

How is your duck doing?

Oh, your poor little duck… mine is about the same - we’ve been giving her an anti inflammatory daily, and she is doing ok on that. Still waiting on the vet - I called and she said she was still waiting for a reply from the avian specialist. I’m hoping this is not the same as yours - she’s not quite 10 months old yet.
Thank you for updating me today, I appreciate it

 

[KaleIAm]

How is your duck doing?