Lethargic Duck Keeps Sleeping and is Unresponsive

[pekinlover]

I went out to feed my two male pekin ducks tonight and one was standing in the corner. Usually they both run to greet me and one did but they other, Sammy, stayed behind. He keeps shutting his eyes and being unresponsive. He will "go to sleep" for about a minute or two and then just wake up and be normal for five minutes. While he's awake he quacks, checks out his surroundings, drinks, and is pooping. His poop seems a little bit more watery than usual, but it's a normal color. I don't think he has had any of his duck food today (they both eat Mazuri waterfowl) but he is eating a lot of red leaf lettuce, which he loves. But then suddenly he'll just like shut off and go back to sleep.
While he was outside his bill felt hot and when I sprayed him down he was still warm so I brought him inside. He has been inside for about an hour now and seems to be acting more normal, his poop is more solid now. It has been very hot here in southern Arizona recently, and I don't know if this could be the heat? He was fine yesterday, but he has been panting a lot the past few weeks. We had a few big rain storms recently too and the straw I use for their bedding stayed in the pen for two days. When I cleaned it out there was some mold on the bottom of it, a bit greenish. I don't know if it was aspergillus, but my Sammy does not have any breathing problems. So no fever, is breathing normal, no discharge from eyes or nose, vent area is clean, feathers are well preened.
Do you need any more information, pictures? Please let me know!

 

[Debs Flock]

Oh, I wish I had some answers for you. Pictures always help.

How is he doing now? Eating, drinking, sleeping, pooping?

I'll tag some people that might be able to help.

@jtn42248
@Amiga
@Miss Lydia
@needlessjunk
@caesargirl
@casportpony
@City farm
@WVduckchick

 

[Miss Lydia]

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.

 

[WVduckchick]

How old are they?

 

[needlessjunk]

I'm also of the mind that it sounds heat related. Since it has been so hot and some birds just don't seem to as well as others. I make up my own electrolytes and use this combo. I can't find the article that it came from.

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.

If it does turn out to be heat related you will always need to keep an eye on him from now on when it gets hot. Once someone/something is a heat casualty they will always be prone to it in the future.

 

[City farm]

It could be so many thing's we all have so many questions.. Do you keep them in a secure area at night? Have you checked him over for sprains? Did he stay happy when you were giving him water?? How deep is his water dish.. Keep us posted.. & yes photos please.. Always like those..

 

[pekinlover]

Thank you for the replies! He is doing much better today. He slept in the bathroom last night and I checked on him twice over night, and he wasn't doing the falling alseep thing at all. This morning I put him back in the pen before work and he seemed pretty much back to normal, but was still closing his eyes a little. This afternoon nothing was out of the ordinary. Sammy was panting so I immediately sprayed them both with water. They have one kiddie pool and another of the really big kiddie pools, along with two buckets of water. Both are four years old. Sammy has not had issues with the heat before but we just moved in March, so this is a new pen. Part of the pen is under what used to be an old car port, so I think that maybe it's stifling the air? The rest of the pen is in partial shade under a tree. I think I'm going to put a fan out there. Also, I don't change the pool water everyday and while it doesn't get very bad, I know they like it best when it's fresh (who doesn't?). So, I think I will try the electrolytes, fan, and keeping uo with the water. And of course I will keep an eye on him. It seems like it could have been the heat?

 

[WVduckchick]

You sound like a very caring duck mom! I bet they will be fine.

 

[Debs Flock]

Glad Sammy is feeling better! Thanks for the update.

 

[pekinlover]

Thank you everyone! This morning I noticed his left eye is a little goopy. He seems to be closing his left eye and not his right eye. I think I will try putting some apple cider vinegar in their water, because that has worked before. Should I separate the two? And do I need to wash his eye with anything? He didn't seem very interested in his food this morning, but still wanted the lettuce.