Lash egg or something else??

[Seattle_Duckmom]

Our duck Cream (think a white layer given how much she lays - all year round) has been battling what our vet thinks is a lash egg that won’t pass for the past month. She has been laying soft eggs and had some bottom heaving, which we feared meant she was egg bound. She’s not egg bound but the lash has not passed after an intense course of antibiotics. It’s to the point where there’s nothing for the vet to do but continue monitoring since she’s “stable” or an invasive surgery, but we just don’t know what’s wrong per se. Vet has discreetly mentioned there’s also an implant (basically duck birth control) not legal in US that can stop her from laying. Cream is generally fine - good appetite, happy little duck - except every few days when she has some bottom heaving cuz another egg is forming, and she eventually passes a soft egg…has anyone gone through this? Has anyone gone through surgery? Even after surgery the problem could reoccur too. I just don’t want her to have a bad quality of life or be in any sort of pain either way….any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!!

 

[HonkABC]

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[Seattle_Duckmom]

Not sure pictures of what but here she is when she’s sitting with her bottom heaving and also a soft, broken egg, if that helps??

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

@KathiQuacks

 

[Canadian Wind]

Soft shelled egg. She needs extra calcium. This could lead to getting egg bound so it needs to be done sooner rather than later.

 

[Seattle_Duckmom]

Yes, she’s getting plenty of calcium too. She was getting calcium plus orally and has access to eggshells. I also add calcium powder to treats.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Our duck Cream (think a white layer given how much she lays - all year round) has been battling what our vet thinks is a lash egg that won’t pass for the past month. She has been laying soft eggs and had some bottom heaving, which we feared meant she was egg bound. She’s not egg bound but the lash has not passed after an intense course of antibiotics. It’s to the point where there’s nothing for the vet to do but continue monitoring since she’s “stable” or an invasive surgery, but we just don’t know what’s wrong per se. Vet has discreetly mentioned there’s also an implant (basically duck birth control) not legal in US that can stop her from laying. Cream is generally fine - good appetite, happy little duck - except every few days when she has some bottom heaving cuz another egg is forming, and she eventually passes a soft egg…has anyone gone through this? Has anyone gone through surgery? Even after surgery the problem could reoccur too. I just don’t want her to have a bad quality of life or be in any sort of pain either way….any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!!

I’ve never had surgery done on any of my ducks, but I did try the Suprelorin implant on one of my beloved Muscovies in 2023. She was having a heck of a rough time with internal laying/lash eggs. Before her, I had another duck with endless laying issues. I was told the implants were illegal at that time, but then they were available for my Muscovy somehow.

At any rate, the implant (+antibiotics) didn’t work immediately, but did work for a couple of months before wearing off. My girl immediately became sick again. I tried another implant + another long course of antibiotics. I thought we were in the clear as she made to October. However, the implant wore off again, and she died from EYP within 24 hours of first showing symptoms.

From what I’ve heard, the implants work better in chickens than in ducks. Idk, maybe if it was a higher dose?

At any rate, it did work for a bit, but was $250 an implant.

I’m not sure I would do it again (I probably would).

As for surgery, I may consider it if there was a very experienced avian surgeon (with very experienced avian surgery technicians) around. However, ducks are very fragile under anesthesia, and it tends be a huge risk.

It sounds like you are doing the best for your girl! I’m sorry that she hasn’t taken a break from laying for the winter. How old is she?

 

[Seattle_Duckmom]

I’ve never had surgery done on any of my ducks, but I did try the Suprelorin implant on one of my beloved Muscovies in 2023. She was having a heck of a rough time with internal laying/lash eggs. Before her, I had another duck with endless laying issues. I was told the implants were illegal at that time, but then they were available for my Muscovy somehow.

At any rate, the implant (+antibiotics) didn’t work immediately, but did work for a couple of months before wearing off. My girl immediately became sick again. I tried another implant + another long course of antibiotics. I thought we were in the clear as she made to October. However, the implant wore off again, and she died from EYP within 24 hours of first showing symptoms.

From what I’ve heard, the implants work better in chickens than in ducks. Idk, maybe if it was a higher dose?

At any rate, it did work for a bit, but was $250 an implant.

I’m not sure I would do it again (I probably would).

As for surgery, I may consider it if there was a very experienced avian surgeon (with very experienced avian surgery technicians) around. However, ducks are very fragile under anesthesia, and it tends be a huge risk.

It sounds like you are doing the best for your girl! I’m sorry that she hasn’t taken a break from laying for the winter. How old is she?

This is very helpful and exactly the info I was looking for!! Surgery makes me nervous and it’s not a guarantee she’ll be fine after. The implant is illegal here and doesn’t fix the underlying problem long term. I’m also scared of EYP given what you went thru and her ongoing soft eggs I think some hard decisions will have to be made, or sadly her body will make them for her….thank you for the response.

To answer your question, she is around 4 (we rescued her from a dirty urban farmer off Craigslist 3 years ago who said she was about 1). So she is young, not old, per se…maybe she’ll stop laying soon enough as she gets older??