Help!!! Pekin Duck's Wings Twitch Involuntarily

[glowworm2011]

Please Help. My pekin duck stopped laying eggs last Sunday, she started laying again Thursday or Friday, but did not lay today. Since last Sunday regardless of weather she lays or not, she just sits around and her wings twitch and jerk a lot. She does get up to eat, and sometimes to swim a little, but mostly she just sits there twitching. I so far have not been able to find a poultry vet in my area (probably could not afford one if I did).

 

[Amiga]

How warm is it there? Does she have water to swim in? My runners droop and twitch their wings when they are very warm.

 

[Captain Cluck]

When she twitches her wings, is she holding them away from her body?

She may be trying to cool off. What is the air temp when she twitches? It may be too hot for her to do much more than lay around and some birds stop laying when it gets hot. (80s and above depending on what your birds are used to)

Mine spent last summer laying in the shade, napping and 'fanning' themselves (kind of like twitching their wings - kind of like a flutter) when it was too hot for them.They would keep their wings out away from their bodies some, too. I would spray them down with the hose (on mist) and put fresh cool water in their wading pool. I kept the pool in the shade.


Keep her pool in the shade, keep the water cool, and maybe spray mist her during the hottest part of the day. If you can. freeze some soda bottles of water and drop them in the pool to help keep it cool. You can wash them off, and refreeze them daily. If it grosses you out too much to put duck pool bottles in your freezer, put them in a clean trash bag after you wash them and before you put them in to freeze.

If heat is not your problem, let us know.

Can you post a video? Maybe someone can look at it and give you a definitive answer (and hopefully put your mind at ease).

 

[glowworm2011]

Thank you for your responses.

Right now she is up drinking and acting alright. But she does that a few times everyday then goes back to twitching. I have my camera ready and will video her if I see her start again.

She does hold her mouth open, like she's panting. Sometimes she goes into the nest area and lays down there. Also her tail twitches too. And I've seen her leaning on her side.

I have a 100 gallon garden pond and 40 gallon tub that I fill with fresh cold water daily. We had a cold front come through and it's been in the mid 70's here. Just now going back up to 80's. Also they have lots of shade. I will give that ice bottle idea a try.

I have three other ducks who all act perfectly fine.

 

[Captain Cluck]

Hmm... from what I have learned on these forums, the panting could be trying to cool down, or she could be in pain. Have you checked her over for wounds or other injuries?

Another thought - What has she been eating (feed wise)?

 

[PetesMom]

She may be egg bound....have you felt her abdomen?

 

[felicity5]

Hi.
I know this thread is old but my 8 month old pekin won't stop twitching. He's been doing it for the entire week his friend died

 

[Amiga]

Can you upload a video? Which part is twitching? What happened to his friend?

 

[felicity5]

He was being treated for metal poisoning at the vet then had a seizure and died.

How do I go about uploading a photo

 

[felicity5]

Also in Australia going into winter so it's quite cool