I think my duck may be sick

[poonamkashib]

Hi everyone

About a month back I saw a duck that was captured and caged at a pet shop close to where I live. She was being kept by herself in a tiny rusted cage. She was definitely not being fed properly because most of her feathers had fallen out and she was very thin and dirty. I knew if I left her there she would most likely die so I brought her home even though I don't have a backyard.
I live in an apartment and she's currently living indoors with me. I know keeping just one duck is cruel and I know that they are not meant to live indoors. It was never my intention to keep her like this forever. Her leg was injured when I brought her home, so I was only waiting for her to recover fully from that horrific ordeal before I took her to a family friend's farm (they have 3 ducks of their own).

Right now, she seems to be healthy in every way possible - she's eating plenty, drinking enough water, her poop looks normal, she's playful, energetic, loving and active. I'm not sure but I think about 10 days back I first noticed a whistling sound when she breathes. She sometimes looks like she is gagging and scratches the underneath of her beak with her foot. She also seems to be panting now and then when she sits. She has plenty of water through the day and the dish is deep enough for her to clean her beak and nose. I can see through her nose too. Her crop feels normal and otherwise, she seems perfectly fine.

There are no avian vets around me and I live in India and most of the medications I've seen mentioned here on his forum aren't available here. I was really hoping someone could help me figure out what may be wrong with her. I'm really, really worried about her. If anyone has an idea of what she may be suffering with, I would appreciate any advice you could give me.

Thank you so much.

Poonam

 

[Jpat]

She is beautifull! So nice of you to take care of her! Its not cruel to keep her alone if your always there! But obviosly better with a other duck

The symptoms definitly sound weird. what are you feeding? is she getting deep water throughout the day?

Can you look down her throat a bit? If you open her bill and kind of pinch the tonge to the bottom bill you can look down the throat and the wind pipe will ope up. I had a duck gagging on a soft feather a while back

 

[poonamkashib]

She is beautifull! So nice of you to take care of her! Its not cruel to keep her alone if your always there! But obviosly better with a other duck

The symptoms definitly sound weird. what are you feeding? is she getting deep water throughout the day?

Can you look down her throat a bit? If you open her bill and kind of pinch the tonge to the bottom bill you can look down the throat and the wind pipe will ope up. I had a duck gagging on a soft feather a while back

Hi, thank you. I just couldn't leave her there. She has recovered very well after what she has been through. I wish I could keep her with me but it's just not an appropriate place for her.

I've been feeding her a combination of veggies, grains and eggs. I shred the veggies so it's easy for her to eat. I do give her some chopped up fruit as a treat. Unfortunately, since she's indoors she doesn't get any worms or bugs (except the occasional cockroach scurrying across the floor hahaha). She has clean water all through the day and I think it's deep enough. I've seen her dunk her whole head in and blow out bubbles through her nostrils.

I've never taken care of a bird before. How would I go about looking down her throat? She's still quite nervous around me.

Did you have to pull out the feather from her throat?

Thanks for responding so soon.

 

[thumper650]

You're in India right? Ducks sometimes pant and breathe heavy in the heat. It may be nothing to worry about.
She's really cute and thanks for taking her in. A stuffed animal or mirror may make her more comfortable if you have to leave her alone.

 

[casportpony]

How warm is it in your house?

 

[poonamkashib]

You're in India right? Ducks sometimes pant and breathe heavy in the heat. It may be nothing to worry about.
She's really cute and thanks for taking her in. A stuffed animal or mirror may make her more comfortable if you have to leave her alone.

Although it's winter, it's been pretty hot these past few weeks. I've been sweating it out myself! I have noticed that she pants more when she's sitting on my shoes or on any bedding. The extra warmth? And she does seem to be better when I put her in a bath so maybe you're right. I've been so worried.
Thank you. It's been wonderful having her around. Such a beautiful experience. She keeps herself busy chewing on my clothes and shoes and anything of mine she can find. I will buy her a stuffed toy this weekend. What's with the mirror?

 

[poonamkashib]

How warm is it in your house?

Hi, it has been really warm. And apart from the heat, it's been really humid too. The nights are cool but it gets really hot during the day. I run her a bath when I can and make sure she's got cool water she can at least submerge her head into.

What could I do to keep her cooler if that's what's wrong?

 

[chickens really]

Panting is normal if too warm. You can feed her cold watermelon, peas, Lettuce. Put ice in her water bowl.

 

[casportpony]

Hi, it has been really warm. And apart from the heat, it's been really humid too. The nights are cool but it gets really hot during the day. I run her a bath when I can and make sure she's got cool water she can at least submerge her head into.

What could I do to keep her cooler if that's what's wrong?

Okay, next question is does her breathing improve 100% when it's cooler?

 

[Miss Lydia]

A mirror is so she can keep herself company. They really like to look at themselves an when you finally take her to your friends farm she'll be able to relate better to her new duck friends if she actually knows what they are[hense the mirror]
Bless you for taking her home and getting her back to health.