Help! Duck's beak seems to be rotting?

[eveebee]

Her beak has been pale lately compared to my other pekins then it started to develop dark spots and now you can see the flesh underneath. She seems to be energetic and acting okay but is smaller than the other females. Any ideas what could be wrong or what I can do for her? She's about 4 months old. I'm afraid it could be malnutrition due to treating them with lettuce too much? The others all look fine. Please help!

 

[Missy60]

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I was looking on Metzer today and found this about black spots on bills. I'm not sure it applies since you can see flesh but I really don't know.
What causes the black spots on my duck's bill?
Black spots on the bill and legs are due to melanin skin pigment. They are normally present (not harmful) but are covered with yellow colored xanthophyll pigment absorbed from feeds containing corn, alfalfa and other feed ingredients containing xanthophyll. In mature breeder ducks, after they have been laying eggs for awhile, more xanthophyll is absorbed by the egg yolk than the duck can consume in her feed. The bill and legs start showing melanin skin pigment due to the bleaching or fading of the xanthophylls.

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

How old are they? Where did you get them? Are their legs spraddled (like doing a split) or are they limping?
Ducks bills tend to be soft, compared to chicken beaks that are very hard. They should have some rigidity though, how soft are they?

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Amykins Not everyone can get duck food I can't. There are poultry feeds that are formulated for all species of poultry like Purina Flock Raiser. for those of us who can't find duck feed.

I agree a vet would be a good idea but not everyone can afford vet care or have a vet in their are who will see poultry. There isn't a vet here who will see poultry. Which is a shame since so many of us now keep poultry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is what I read when looking at what to feed my Indian Runner ducks since i had only had Muscovy. 2 Different species of ducks.

http://runnerduck.net/feeding.php

 

[Miss Lydia]

Her beak has been pale lately compared to my other pekins then it started to develop dark spots and now you can see the flesh underneath. She seems to be energetic and acting okay but is smaller than the other females. Any ideas what could be wrong or what I can do for her? She's about 4 months old. I'm afraid it could be malnutrition due to treating them with lettuce too much? The others all look fine. Please help!

You say treating her with lettuce? what else do you feed them? and

 

[eveebee]

I've been feeding them 16% layer crumble that I feed the chickens. They get some corn and are also free range. I give them lettuce every night when I lock them up. I have 4 female and 2 male Pekins, a pair of Khaki Campbells, and 2 African geese ( and 16 chickens). One of the female ducks has started laying but I don't know which one. They are all about 4 mos old. The spots aren't just surface, the big reddish patch is fleshy.

I fed them 22% game bird starter/grower when they were little before I turned them out.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

You can wash the bill with warm water and a soft cloth or an extra soft tooth brush. Look for any injury, or bad spot and apply neosporin to it (the type without pain reliever). If you don't find any injuries and or bad areas just keep an eye on the bill.

 

[eveebee]

Any idea what could be causing it? I just noticed another one with a suspicious spot on it's beak.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

without being hands on with them no, however neosporin without pain reliever wont hurt them. Could be an injury or bacterial