Female Duck Behavior Question

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about ducks

 

[Isaac 0]

Hey I have a female duck who is usually super loud every time I come outside she’s quacking so loud just to say hi as what I take it as that’s just something I got used to but today she is very quiet and she usually is with the male duck all the time and she’s just kind of standing alone and I’m not sure if there’s something wrong with her do you know of this behavior? It’s just not like her normally. As I’m looking at her from my window she’s just standing in the same spot. I checked her no prolapse. Her eyes and nostrils look normal. I gave treats and they all were eating including her. She’s just kinda keeping to herself. Walking slow. She’s less than a year old. There are eggs being laid even tho she is not sitting on them. I only saw her once doing that. I’m just not sure what’s wrong with her. She’s usually more active than this and definitely the loudest duck I have.

Me too. I lost one duck to a cyst and then one of Bantam chickens died in a sad accident. And all within the past few months. I don’t want anything to be wrong with her. She’s the only one who is loud every time I come outside. Jumps up to greet me at the gate. So this is just sad for me I am worried

No the one that died was a few months ago

Update :: I went out there n felt her neck and chest to see if maybe something was lodged in there bc there’s a lot of acorns they try to get and usually drop and don’t eat. When I did that she finally became a little more active and started bobbing her head up n down like she normally does with her male duck partner and making some noise. Not her loud quack but more than she did the last few hours so idk maybe her throat was bothering her. Could be adjusting to the cold. We are in Michigan and it’s pretty cold today first time she’s been outside in it.

Has she laid an egg today?

The most common reason a duck will start suddenly acting "lethargic", or "not herself" is most likely related to her trying to pass an egg. On occasions, birds system will "glitch", and their eggs come out funky looking. Whether it be soft-shelled, or abnormally large this often cause's some distress to the bird. If she has had a past history of laying weird eggs, to help, or to be on the safe side, you could try giving her a calcium supplement like calcium citrate, gluconate 23%, or a crushed up tums pill. Luckily these problems tend to resolve themself overnight, so my suggestion would be just to keep an eye or her, and make sure it's nothing too serious such as egg-binding.

I would suspect if she has something stuck in her throat, she'd be showing other symptoms, such as shaking of the head, or gasping, but you never know with birds. Keep us posted.

 

[bjurbrat]

Is she molting it is the season and they act weird my chickens walk backwards and stay to themselves
❤

 

[furbabies86]

Has she laid an egg today?

The most common reason a duck will start suddenly acting "lethargic", or "not herself" is most likely related to her trying to pass an egg. On occasions, birds system will "glitch", and their eggs come out funky looking. Whether it be soft-shelled, or abnormally large this often cause's some distress to the bird. If she has had a past history of laying weird eggs, to help, or to be on the safe side, you could try giving her a calcium supplement like calcium citrate, gluconate 23%, or a crushed up tums pill. Luckily these problems tend to resolve themself overnight, so my suggestion would be just to keep an eye or her, and make sure it's nothing too serious such as egg-binding.

I would suspect if she has something stuck in her throat, she'd be showing other symptoms, such as shaking of the head, or gasping, but you never know with birds. Keep us posted.

Hey she’s young so she just started laying. In the nest they made I’m thinking there is over 10 eggs I can’t be too sure bc I don’t wanna mess with them. They all seem normal looking and this is her first time laying. I’m hoping she’s just having a weird moment and she’ll be ok tomorrow. I’ll definitely see how she acts tomorrow. When trying to give her calcium how would I give that to her without any of the others trying to take it. I have a pen that has a total of four ducks 1 turkey and 1 bantam chicken. These are my first farm animals so I’m learning something new all the time. Egg binding? I’ll definitely look up what that is. I wanna make sure she’s ok! I love my animals and want them to be ok! Thanks so much for your input.

 

[furbabies86]

How smokey is it where you are, maybe she had a sore throat?

It’s not Smokey here. I live in Michigan right on the big lake. Clear as crystal out here

 

[furbabies86]

Is she molting it is the season and they act weird my chickens walk backwards and stay to themselves
❤

I’m not sure what you mean. Molting? Sorry my first run of having any type of farm animals so I’m learning as I go.

 

[furbabies86]

I’m not sure what you mean. Molting? Sorry my first run of having any type of farm animals so I’m learning as I go.

Ok looked it up. No she is not molting

 

[furbabies86]

Hey she’s young so she just started laying. In the nest they made I’m thinking there is over 10 eggs I can’t be too sure bc I don’t wanna mess with them. They all seem normal looking and this is her first time laying. I’m hoping she’s just having a weird moment and she’ll be ok tomorrow. I’ll definitely see how she acts tomorrow. When trying to give her calcium how would I give that to her without any of the others trying to take it. I have a pen that has a total of four ducks 1 turkey and 1 bantam chicken. These are my first farm animals so I’m learning something new all the time. Egg binding? I’ll definitely look up what that is. I wanna make sure she’s ok! I love my animals and want them to be ok! Thanks so much for your input.

Looked up egg binding. All the symptoms they mentioned she has none of those so I am not sure if that is the case but I’ll definitely keep an eye on her.

 

[Weeg]

Molting is where some of there feathers fall out, and then regrow to kinda freshen up her coat. Here is a picture of a molting duck-

 

[Isaac 0]

Looked up egg binding. All the symptoms they mentioned she has none of those so I am not sure if that is the case but I’ll definitely keep an eye on her.

To be clear I did not say she has egg binding.