kayuga duck 1 year sudden loss of balance

[louandneil]

I noticed about a week ago that my adult Kayuga was sitting a lot and when walking in at night was very low to the ground and taking it very easy. I thought maybe the drake had been on her so I took her out in the day and out her in a night. It has been 4 days now and there is no improvement. She seems to be worse and has to keep putting her wings out to balance herself. She also falls forwards and backwards when trying to walk. I put her in the pond to have a clean and she seems ok in there but is not good when out. Any ideas? Also the farmer has been spraying recently the fields arounf us of what I presume is a pesticide. Do you know if this would have any effect?

 

[louandneil]

help

 

[Miss Lydia]

help

I'd say any kind of chemicals would have an effect if the wind was blowing just right. or if she had acsess to the fields where he was spraying. has she been laying eggs, could she be egg bound? I'd deff keep her away from the drake right now, and your not noticing anything affecting him? seems if it was something the farmer sprayed it would affect them both. Does the drake mount her alot[over mate] she could have a back injury, rest will hopefully heal that. Is she eating good and drinking? Vitamins would help also electrolytes. Have you looked her over real good/ checked her legs movement any pain when moving them. water therapy is excellent keep that up.

 

[louandneil]

Thanks for reply. She laid yesterday. Eating and drinking fine. He does seem to want to keep mounting her and not the others so much. Any opportunity he does so I have to fight him off if she is with him. The others dont seem to be affected by anything. I have given her some baytril and metacam tonight to see if that helps. I will completely seperate her tomorrow and get her in the water where she can be alone without him trying to mount her. Is baytril and metacam ok to use?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for reply. She laid yesterday. Eating and drinking fine. He does seem to want to keep mounting her and not the others so much. Any opportunity he does so I have to fight him off if she is with him. The others dont seem to be affected by anything. I have given her some baytril and metacam tonight to see if that helps. I will completely seperate her tomorrow and get her in the water where she can be alone without him trying to mount her. Is baytril and metacam ok to use?

I have only used Baytril once and for a chicken, but I think short term it would be okay, you just don't know what is wrong so she may not need an antibiotic. But for pain metacam is a good choice again don't over do either one. just try to keep her restful with plenty of swim time, if he is over mating her she could just have pulled something or have an injury to her back that hopefully will heal in time. If she's laying them i am thinking the drake has hurt her some how and a little R&R is what she needs. Just don't put her back too soon, also she may like to have a buddy with her so if you have a spare girl that is mellow, she might appreciate having some company.

 

[louandneil]

yeah I have her sister so I can put the two of them together... or even better make him sit in solitary confinement to think about what he has done

 

[Miss Lydia]

yeah I have her sister so I can put the two of them together... or even better make him sit in solitary confinement to think about what he has done

Well you can put him in solitary confinement but I doubt he'll be thinking about anything other than getting out and to his girls. Some drakes just prefer one duck to another and it's not always in the ducks best interest to keep them together, Mating season will be over in a couple months hopefully by then she will have recovered to where they can all be together again. it's best to have at least 3-4 ducks to a drake though.

 

[louandneil]

yeah I have 3 females her, her sister and another duck but she is sitting. I have just got 4 ducklings because of him but they are still to young to go in and help out with that department. Ill seperate her and her sister and give her metacam and see how she goes. He is so randy he is always looking to get on one. I think he must like her more than the others, especially as the other is sitting.

 

[Miss Lydia]

yeah I have 3 females her, her sister and another duck but she is sitting. I have just got 4 ducklings because of him but they are still to young to go in and help out with that department. Ill seperate her and her sister and give her metacam and see how she goes. He is so randy he is always looking to get on one. I think he must like her more than the others, especially as the other is sitting.

yes sounds like she is getting over bred especially if one of your ducks is sitting, by the way did you candle the other eggs yet? most young drakes are like that, they just can't help themselves too much testosterone running amuck inside, thats way it's a good idea to have more than a couple females for them. Thank goodness after about 9 yrs[kidding] they do settle down. My oldest drake is 9 and if he could keep up he'd still be chasing the girls, now he has to wait till they get close then launch an attack.

 

[louandneil]

oh my 9 years!!!!! I have had a baby duck hatch today so thats the chick and the duck and there seem to be some more in eggs so im going to give it till next monday and if nothing else they will have to come off.