I Need Help! Serious Duck Health Issues

[LLCoyote]

Alright, I do not have a camera so I'm going to try and describe this the best way I can.

In two weeks it seems like my entire flock is falling apart. I took my male to the vet and had him treated for worms because he was loosing weight. Then the girls started to loose weight so I wormed them too. I'm not sure how long I had this problem before I actually found out and started treating it. Now they're all skinny but they're all been wormed. My male seems to have gotten a little better, but it's been two weeks since I treated him and he hasn't gained much weight. My last resort is to try and give them all antibiotics. I don't have money to take them to UT. That would be 300 dollars upfront, not counting the treatment and yet I can't just sit back and watch them wither away to nothing.

They don't seem espeically interested in food either it's really weird. They are very active and don't ACT sick in the slightest. They have free acess to 21 percent layer pellets and oyster shell. They have clean water, a clean pool to swim in, a huge pen that is kept both clean and free of mud and debris. I've given them vitamins in their water to try and boost their health, and it seems like everything is falling to pot. I'm seriously starting to panic. They were perfectly healthy up until recently and like a moron I got two baby geese before things started to go down hill. Now I have three day old babies in my house and I'm desperatly trying to get my flock back into good health.

To make matters worse, my female got a mysterious injury on her back a few days ago. My vet doesn't know how to treat ducks, and the only place available is UT. She seems to be healing well, but I don't know what caused it and if I need to put anything on her wounds.





I'm very upset right now, I have no idea how things got so bad so fast. I've raised these guys and they're my babies. I couldn't bare to loose them and yet no one can tell me what is going on. Does any one have any tips on what I can do to bring their weight up? Does it take a very long time for them to gain weight?

 

[Kevin565]

No clue on the female but for the male I would continue with electrolytes and add in some wet dog food.

 

[LLCoyote]

Thank you!

 

[Amiga]

I agree, wet dog food, or some cat kibble would help with calories and protein. I would wash the back with some cooled off chamomile tea for a couple of days then switch to comfrey tea. It could be just irritated, or it could be bacterial or fungal infection. If bacterial, good ole triple antibiotic. If fungal, I would consider monistat cream, or pau d'arco tea.

Another thought is that it may be spider bites, in which case I don't know if a cortisone cream would be safe or not.

It almost sounds like they have hyperactive thyroids . . . . busy busy busy, but dropping weight.

Any way you could bring them into a smaller area for a day or two that is not too warm (even air conditioned), but would confine them and keep them more quiet for a little while? Perhaps extra treats like peas (I cannot recall if your ducks like peas) to amuse them and give them some calories. I don't usually recommend corn, but it is a high calorie food and I might give them a little bit of that.

 

[Amiga]

 

[LLCoyote]

Thank you so much!!! I'll defiantly go out and get those things. Would my vet be the one to supply me with the triple anti-biotic? I'll try just about anything. I never thought about infection because it doesn't look infected to me (I'm no expert though) and a few days ago after a neighborhood dog wandered through our yard I had to go into our neighbor's field and catch them (They rarely run off). I probably blamed that poor dog for nothing.

And I don't know about the thyroids because their feathers are off. It's like they all need to molt and just can't/won't. But you're right, they're constantly busy. We have three acers that they are free to explore and they just wonder about until they're tired. I'll try keeping them inside their night time pen (which is basically a big horse stall) and see if that helps too. Thank you so much for your input, I'll keep all of these things in mind!

 

[Amiga]

I get it over the counter. Neosporin is a brand name, but usually there are store brands that cost a little less. I keep a few large tubes of it around, for the ducks and me!

Wow I wish I could come over and help you out. So sad you are going through this.

Oh, and the comfrey and pau d'arco might be available at a large grocery store supplement section, or you may need to find a health food store. Sleepytime tea has chamomile in it.