Lethargic duck

[Bobbimarks]

We have a female Pekin duck. Two Saturdays in a row now, she’s looked like she’s on death’s door. Laying on the ground with her head down, acting like she can barely move. We picked her up and put her in a cage in the garage and gave her some electrolyte water. She has done a complete 180 within an hour or two both times. She is up and about and quacking again. What would cause this? Could it be a vitamin deficiency of some sort?

 

[Amiga]

Does she lie flat? Is it possible she is in the mood for romance?

How old is she? Diet? Other ducks?

 

[Bobbimarks]

Does she lie flat? Is it possible she is in the mood for romance?

How old is she? Diet? Other ducks?

She’s nearly 1 year old and is fed layer feed with the chickens.
She was found, both times, laying fairly limp with her head curled down. Did not fight being picked up at all, which is highly unusual.
Both times on a rainy Saturday...

 

[Bobbimarks]

My only other thought is she was hypothermic but it wasn’t that cold out. 40-50’s and they’ve survived the subzero temps and snow days without issue.

 

[Amiga]

Wondering if she has aspergiliosis, a fungal lung disease. Or it could be some kind of infection. Another possibility is egg-laying difficulties.

A good duck vet is best. Meanwhile, I would give vitamins, especially B vitamins, and 200 mg calcium citrate dissolved in treats for two or three days.

 

[Amiga]

For B vitamins, you can add a tablespoon brewer’s yeast or nutritional yeast per cup of food.

 

[Bobbimarks]

She looks beautiful, healthy and happy, today. Laid us a nice egg in the cage we kept her in last night.
We have about 12 other ducks, but she hangs out with our pair of geese...and actually our male goose has decided that he prefers her over the female goose. (So much for getting a pair.) I didn’t sleep too well last night because the duck was in the garage and the male goose was honking for her all night.

Can’t hurt to try the brewers yeast!

 

[Amiga]

Couldn’t the gander hurt her, trying to mate?

 

[chickens really]

Change the Feed to a poultry finisher and add scratch at 15% .

 

[Skipper81]

You can try to add a niacin supplement to her water for a few days in case of deficiency. You can get niacin capsules at any store break open and add to a gallon of water, ducks can get niacin deficiencies and would be lethargic, inactive, and have difficult walking