Maggots on duck

[Aunt Angus]

And I would absolutely see a vet asap. This is not normal, and your duck must be uncomfortable.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm sorry to post so many times, but I'm having internet issues, and things are posting while incomplete.

Ducks need to bathe in order to keep their feathers in good shape. They need to swim and then preen, which allows them to spread oils from their oil gland (at the base of the tail) all over their feathers. It's what makes them waterproof. Ducks are made to swim and need to be waterproof. Chickens don't require that. They also need access to water to clear their nares (nostrils) and their eyes. They need water to digest food, too. Shoot, they even mate on water. I'm glad you have a kiddie pool! She probably loves it! Takes some pressure off her legs.

Ducks' legs don't break if they have adequate niacin. Your duck is a heavy breed that requires more niacin than most. It has to be provided when they are growing or deformities and breaks occur. It is probably past effectiveness for your duck, but you can try to give her niacinamide in her drinking water. You can buy it on Amazon or at drug stores.

 

[SittinDuck]

It sounds like your duck suffered a niacin deficiency when it was younger and now its feet/legs are deformed.

And maybe you can work on getting the fly problem under control. For my goats, I spray them with horse fly spray once a week. It keeps the flies pretty much at bay. It is permethrin based.

Niacin? I don't know... I've always fed them layer pellets + corn + cheap dogfood which is mostly grain and vitamins. In summer I cut grass and clover for them. And they eat whatever bugs they can find.

The legs started straight then gradually turned inward over the years. She is 7 years old. I figured all ducks were that way, or at least the white ones. I also have some mallard colored ducks (rouens I think) and their feet aren't distorted, but all the white ones were.

Is horse fly spray safe for ducks and aquatic life? It might be a challenge to find something that works on bugs but not on fish and frogs.

 

[SittinDuck]

And I would absolutely see a vet asap. This is not normal, and your duck must be uncomfortable.

I think being alone is her biggest source of discomfort. Birds are flock animals. She hasn't laid an egg since I took her from the pond. She used to be a good egg producer.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Oh - no it's not safe for fish. I thought she was only using the kiddie pool. My mistake.

Yeah, niacin is important. Most chicken feed doesn't have enough. Even feed for ducks is low for some breeds, like your Pekin. Many people add niacin to their ducks' feed by adding nutritional yeast flakes to feeders or niacinamide to waterers. If you raise any more big ducks in the future, I'd consider adding the niacin. It will help keep their legs strong.

But she is a very old girl! That's great that she's done so well for so long!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here's some info about niacin deficiency:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/niacin-deficiency-in-waterfowl.1367557/unread

 

[SittinDuck]

I'm sorry to post so many times, but I'm having internet issues, and things are posting while incomplete.

Ducks need to bathe in order to keep their feathers in good shape. They need to swim and then preen, which allows them to spread oils from their oil gland (at the base of the tail) all over their feathers. It's what makes them waterproof. Ducks are made to swim and need to be waterproof. Chickens don't require that. They also need access to water to clear their nares (nostrils) and their eyes. They need water to digest food, too. Shoot, they even mate on water. I'm glad you have a kiddie pool! She probably loves it! Takes some pressure off her legs.

Ducks' legs don't break if they have adequate niacin. Your duck is a heavy breed that requires more niacin than most. It has to be provided when they are growing or deformities and breaks occur. It is probably past effectiveness for your duck, but you can try to give her niacinamide in her drinking water. You can buy it on Amazon or at drug stores.

The problem with the kiddie pool is it's not deep enough. She can't get her butt under water. I can't think of a better container. It needs to be deep enough but also small enough that I can dump the water and refill it.

I'll look into the niacin. I suppose it couldn't hurt.

What about other B vitamins?

 

[Aunt Angus]

The problem with the kiddie pool is it's not deep enough. She can't get her butt under water. I can't think of a better container. It needs to be deep enough but also small enough that I can dump the water and refill it.

I'll look into the niacin. I suppose it couldn't hurt.

What about other B vitamins?

B complex is great! And I see your point about the pool.

I just wish I knew why she keeps getting attacked by maggots. What a terrible mystery...

 

[SittinDuck]

Oh - no it's not safe for fish. I thought she was only using the kiddie pool. My mistake.

Yeah, niacin is important. Most chicken feed doesn't have enough. Even feed for ducks is low for some breeds, like your Pekin. Many people add niacin to their ducks' feed by adding nutritional yeast flakes to feeders or niacinamide to waterers. If you raise any more big ducks in the future, I'd consider adding the niacin. It will help keep their legs strong.

But she is a very old girl! That's great that she's done so well for so long!

The goal is to get her back to the pond with the other ducks and geese. She is just using the kiddie pool until then. Now it's starting to cool off so I don't know if I should wait til next spring to reintroduce her to the pond.

Two of my geese are also as old as her, but in much better shape. The other two I raised from eggs.

 

[SittinDuck]

B complex is great! And I see your point about the pool.

I just wish I knew why she keeps getting attacked by maggots. What a terrible mystery...

I have some B-complex + C. It has 25mg niacinmide and quite a lot of other stuff. Do you think that would be ok? I'm giving it to a cat at the moment and she seems to do ok with it.