HELP!! Duck is feeling sick!!

[juniverse]

We don't know what's wrong with her.

Basic Info: She's a Mallard who is laying eggs here and there.

She has been moving extremely sluggishly and limps if she does walk.
I checked her feet and there are no cuts or scrapes so it can't be bumblefoot.

She has been panting and making mouth movements like she wants to throw up.

We don't know if it's vitamin deficiency or she might have ate something bad.

Today she had watermelon, lettuce, tomatoes, dry kibble and water. (Just a little bit of each of these things.)

When I found her sick she would sip water now she won't.

And ideas for help would be appreciated. :-(

 

[Amiga]

Does she also get regular poultry or duck feed? She may have a nutritional imbalance if not.

She could have eaten something bad - food grade activated charcoal may help - there is a recipe for a slurry in the stickies, or you can just add a teaspoon to a pint of water for her to drink.

Are there drakes? Could she have been roughed up?

Here is the link to the slurry - and to flushes (give her diarrhea to pass toxins) - I don't know if that's best for her - you need to go with your instincts. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal#post_9508213

A good duck vet is best, and it's Sunday night…..kids and ducks get sick and hurt nights, weekends, and holidays, eh?

This came on suddenly? How long has she been like this?

 

[juniverse]

The duck feed tends to give her bad poops so we stop giving it to her.
We substituted with cat kibble. It seems to be their staple food. Lettuce and other fruits are treats.

We have one drake but they are house ducks and they are kept separated.

Luckily I have the charcoal on hand from previous experience I had so I will have her drink that.

She acted like this two days ago. She then laid her egg and ate the shell... and she was fine!

This started again about an hour ago.

 

[Amiga]

I would find a different feed, perhaps with lower protein content - but she needs a wider variety of nutrients than she is getting, so that could cause some unpredictable problems.

For right away, a poultry vitamin mix in her water once a week would help. And you might try fermenting the feed - done properly, some say it reduces odor.

 

[juniverse]

She is up and about and walking around acting healthy and normal!! It's so strange.
We will take your advice and give the feed.