Help! Sick Muscovy duck!

[dkducky]

I have a Muscovy mixed duck. She's a little under a year old. I noticed 2 days ago she seemed a bit slower and a bit lethargic (she's always been on the slower side, so I didn't think anything of it, she was born smaller and kind of the runt of her group). At that point and yesterday she was drinking. Not sure if she ate. Today, she seems very lethargic to the point of me being able to pick her up, witch is unusual. Her poop is yellowish and diarrhea like. She has a mate, who is not leaving her side and has been attacking any other males who try to mate with her. They both usually separate themselves from the rest of the ducks and hang out in the bushes of my front yard. They have access to water and food nearby. No other ducks seem ill. Please help! I've had ducks for a few years, but I'm still learning and have never seen any of them behave this way. I have a vet who deals with ducks, so if I need to, I'll call them, but I try to avoid that route because I want to avoid stressing ducks or chickens more than need be.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does she lay? Does the stuff coming out her backside look anything like yolk? If I was you with what your describing sounds pretty serious a vet might be your best choice.

 

[dkducky]

I believe she's an egg layer. What she pooped didn't look like yolk, it was more grainy? I think? Could it be an impacted egg? When I picked her up this morning, I took a look at her butt and all I saw was a bit of grainy poop, but it didn't seem stuck or anything.

 

[Miss Lydia]

An impacted egg can take them out pretty quick this has been going on for a few days? You could try giving her some warm soaks and keep her where the drakes will not mate with her. But honestly a vet would be the best route they can do a hands on examine.

 

[dkducky]

An impacted egg can take them out pretty quick this has been going on for a few days? You could try giving her some warm soaks and keep her where the drakes will not mate with her. But honestly a vet would be the best route they can do a hands on examine.

I'm speculating it's been a few days, this is the first day where she seemed disinterested in food, but I wasn't watching at all times, so she could have eaten. I was watching her a little more today and even caught her again when locking everyone up for the night. Her bottom seems ok (tail is still down) and now I'm wondering if my drake may have been too aggressive with her. He's injured another girls leg before. He's a very large duck and she's small. Combined with the fact that it's Spring and all the males are going crazy. I've already made an appointment with my vet, but she's not available until Monday. I've separated her from all the ducks for the night. If she doesn't improve by tomorrow I may consider an emergency vet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please keep us updated on how she is doing. Yes this time of year too many drakes can really take their to on the females especially if she is a favorite. Hopefully that is it and with rest and good feed she’ll be feeling better very soon. A vet is a great idea.

 

[dkducky]

Unfortunately she passed away this afternoon unexpectedly. I'm kinda bummed because she was one of my favorites :'( I didn't even get the chance to take her to the vet, so I have no idea what happened, except I have a feeling she got injured by this drake and was hiding it for a while. None of my other ducks seem sick, but I'll be watching them more closely.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So very sorry