Lethargic Duck Keeps Sleeping and is Unresponsive

[DuckyGaze]

Do they have a pool they can get into to cool off? it maybe the heat. They need to be able to get out of the sun and have plenty of cool drinking water also. Since everything else appears normal what about picking up some electrolytes at the feed store and putting some into their drinking water till it's not so hot. This would be similar to us drinking gator aid. Also very important their duck house Have good and ventilation.

I am in a very remote area and we don't have much here for taking care of ducks, but if a duck really needs electrolytes, would gator aid be an OK substitute?
Just asking because out of all the ducklings and chicks that were saved 2 weeks ago, a few have been slow-moving and when I asked the one lady if the ducklings' bills were hot she said they were. They do have access to a nice pool but 2 of them are not eating well and their poop is very liquid. I did tell her to get gator aid but hopefully it will not do them any harm. They are drinking that but probably because of the sweetness. Have I done something horrible telling her to give them gator aid? I hope not...

 

[pekinlover]

I forgot to post this earlier.

 

[Amiga]

I would switch off the gatorade and put apple cider vinegar (preferably organic) in their water - a tablespoon per gallon - it has electrolytes.

The symptoms sound like an infection - bacterial or parasites.

I would be looking for some antibiotics. In the meantime, I would add food grade activated charcoal powder (a tablespoon per quart of water) to their night time water once and see if there is improvement, and use the ACV during the daytime.

But I would be looking for antibiotics . . . . it is also possible they might have coccidiosis, in which case amprolium is used for that, I think.

 

[DuckyGaze]

We have nothing remotely resembling charcoal powder for birds here. We live in a horrible area for keeping ducks. Everyone should have a duck.

Ok..the anti-biotics is something I can do.

Will let her know now to stop adding the gator aid to their water.
Thank you for the info!

I love this forum!

What is ACV?

 

[needlessjunk]

We have nothing remotely resembling charcoal powder for birds here. We live in a horrible area for keeping ducks. Everyone should have a duck.

Ok..the anti-biotics is something I can do.

Will let her know now to stop adding the gator aid to their water.
Thank you for the info!

I love this forum!

What is ACV?

activated charcoal is for humans. Usually in the health food section at the grocery or specialty store

 

[DuckyGaze]

I forgot to post this earlier.

I do hope he is back to normal real soon! Ducks are a lovely pet and just plain awesome so when they are not doing well it affects us. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

 

[DuckyGaze]

activated charcoal is for humans. Usually in the health food section at the grocery or specialty store

Really? Wow.. had no idea. Thank you so much again.
I will buy some for my ducks also, just to have onhand incase something comes up with one of my babies.

Crossing my fingers that it is available in our IGA or Provigo grocery store or at the pharmacy.

If not I will order online.

 

[needlessjunk]

We have nothing remotely resembling charcoal powder for birds here. We live in a horrible area for keeping ducks. Everyone should have a duck.

Ok..the anti-biotics is something I can do.

Will let her know now to stop adding the gator aid to their water.
Thank you for the info!

I love this forum!

What is ACV?

The antibiotics would be for @pekinlover

What exactly is wrong with your ducks? This is a good electrolyte mix but apple cider vinegar (ACV) the raw, unfiltered with the mother kind is great and also has electrolytes

1 cup water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Use full strength on severely ailing chickens, otherwise mix into their drinking water as needed, a cup per gallon of water.

 

[needlessjunk]

Okay I'm confused and I don't whom @Amiga was addressing. Sorry if I'm mixing things up. I need to go back and reread what is going on.

 

[DuckyGaze]

Okay I'm confused and I don't whom @Amiga was addressing. Sorry if I'm mixing things up. I need to go back and reread what is going on.

2 other people and myself saved over 60 ducklings from horrible conditions and now 1 lady has 2 ducklings that seem sick and have very hot bills, and their poop is liquid and they are not eating well at all or moving around or going in the pool. So Amiga was telling me to stop the gator aid, (had no idea what else to do) and that they may need anti-biotics.



going to go see her ducklings now.. will let you know how they are.

Thank you as always for the great info!