Dying Muscovy....

[Amy1634]

So for about a year I’ve been raising Muscovy and chickens. This past week stranger things have been happening. . I have had no issues, no deaths until now. One, two, three. Three male Muscovy are now deseased. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how. I have two ideas that I wanted to throw at you all with hopes of either confirmation or some other ideas. #1... a rogue male killing the others for dominance. Somehow puncturing a lung with no outside marks. Or #2, some kind of respiratory infection they somehow got. I’ve witnessed two of them die and they both layed down away from everyone else and struggled to breathe. The last one I held in my arms as he passed. I heard very labored breathing, possibly liquid. I felt so horrible for them! Is it even possible for them to kill each other. I know I’ve seen them attack each other by going after the neck and standing on them and possibly crushing them. Or would this be an infection and if so HOW? Thanks

 

[Isaac 0]

Very hard for us to give you an exact cause of death over the internet, If you want you can send their body to your local state poultry necropsy lab. Sorry for your loss

 

[Jpat]

Awwe sorry about your ducks

Like Isaac seid, a biopsy would be a great scientific anser and solve the mystery

But if it seams respritory the first thing that comes to mind is if their coop is clean and dry

Their coop needs to be clean, dry and have good ventilation or dangerous molds and ammonia can form

 

[Anime2lover]

No definite answers here. If your flock gets into contact with the wild flock theirs a high chance of both injury and respiratory illness. Though I can't say i've heard of one adult being able to kill another healthy adult unless they drown them.

 

[Amy1634]

Thanks all, I know their coups is good and dry and clean and they free range all day, but I do have straw down in the enclosure that also is very wet, there is a natural spring that runs on one side. Could this be the issue? Wet straw outside the coup but in the enclosure? And why would it only be the males? Seems strange. But thanks for the ideas, it’s much appreciated!!

 

[DuckyDonna]

@Miss Lydia will be on in the morning and she may have some advice too. She's got muscovy

 

[Isaac 0]

Thanks all, I know their coups is good and dry and clean and they free range all day, but I do have straw down in the enclosure that also is very wet, there is a natural spring that runs on one side. Could this be the issue? Wet straw outside the coup but in the enclosure? And why would it only be the males? Seems strange. But thanks for the ideas, it’s much appreciated!!

Wet soiled bedding may contain harmful fungal spores which can cause respiratory diseases like aspergillus, not sure why it would be only the males.

 

[Amy1634]

Ok so I know what is happening.... it’s mold in the hay I’ve been using. !! Probably built up in their respiratory system this past couple months. Lesson learned on not buying leftover hay that hasn’t been dried properly (obviously I didn’t know this until now). As far as it being only the males, I think that might be because they sleep up higher and the males sleep on the floor. I could be wrong about that.... I just burned all the hay, 40 bales I had gotten. I’ve had ten pass away so far. I called the necropsy lab and they helped me figure out what’s happening. I’m so sad! Even half the babies I hatched out passed.

 

[Isaac 0]

Ok so I know what is happening.... it’s mold in the hay I’ve been using. !! Probably built up in their respiratory system this past couple months. Lesson learned on not buying leftover hay that hasn’t been dried properly (obviously I didn’t know this until now). As far as it being only the males, I think that might be because they sleep up higher and the males sleep on the floor. I could be wrong about that.... I just burned all the hay, 40 bales I had gotten. I’ve had ten pass away so far. I called the necropsy lab and they helped me figure out what’s happening. I’m so sad! Even half the babies I hatched out passed.

Sorry for your loss. Soiled bedding can cause all sorts of nasty stuff. Good job burning the bedding, I would suggest reconsidering your setup to prevent the bedding from getting wet again, and developing fungal and mold spores.

 

[Amy1634]

Thanks!! It wasn’t my set up it was the fact that I purchased hay that hadn’t been dried properly and I didn’t know better. My mistake!!