Maggots on duck

[Crazy Maizie]

I can't find the comment where you posted the super b complex you have - that would work, but I think the recommended dose is at least 40mg per day, so with the issues, I'd crush up two tablets. Whatever the body doesn't need will be flushed out.

 

[SittinDuck]

we have Pekins that are on purina layer feed. i add yeast, steel cut oats; and also a cup of dried mealworms as treats. They love the mealworms and I love that the yeast (I use brewers yeast) sticks to the mealworms! I quite often hand feed defrosted frozen peas as treats. Our ducks just love mealworms and peas! yours probably get more bugs from foraging than mine as i only have a suburban garden and no pond.

How old are your Pekins?

 

[SittinDuck]

Are you sure they are maggots and not duck lice? Duck lice are sort of long and squirming.

The deformed legs and feet may not be reversible at this age.

Yes I'm pretty sure they are maggots. They look like maggots and correlate with flies.

The legs are reversible at this age since one did reverse back to normal after it broke. Only one leg is twisted now.

 

[SittinDuck]

They eat the balanced feed last because they fill up on junk food first.

If you give a child a bowl of chips and candy and a bowl of veggies and protein, they're going to fill up on the junk and not eat what is healthy for them.

That's children who crave the energy. Give me the choice and Ill stuff myself on whatever I happen to be craving which is almost never chips and absolutely never candy. My view is to let the animal tell me what it wants to eat just as I listen to my own cravings.

Offer a balanced diet for waterfowl. Then cut EVERYTHING else back to 10% of their whole diet. That's around a tablespoon per bird. Sadly the issues with your Pekin were preventable. However now they're not reversible.

@Isaac 0 @Miss Lydia do either of you have any advice here?

My rouens and geese are models of health and vitality. It's only the lone Pekin with trouble which was only a broken leg until I took her from the pond.

 

[SittinDuck]

The maggots could potentially be from her not preening, or having an infected oil gland. How come her tail and general bottom area is all discolored?

Probably because she spends the night sitting in one spot then can't submerge herself in the shallow kiddie pool. That staining doesn't wash off.

 

[SittinDuck]

Because it's dog food. Fowl have different nutrition requirements. Just because the label has niacin in it doesn't mean it's an appropriate quantity or source.

I feel very badly for your duck. I'm also questioning her quality of life at this point. All alone, can't walk, and covered in maggots and needs a bath daily, and an inadequate diet.

I feel bad for the duck too but what do you suggest I do? I'm here for suggestions.

She always has been alone even at the pond because the geese and rouens aren't exactly her friends. I can't take on more of her species because I already have too many birds for the size of my pond.

She can walk and even climb the banks of the pond, but it's just not easy for her because she steps on her feet.

She's not covered in maggots. She gets an infestation only because I wasn't paying attention because I thought the problem was resolved. It won't happen again because I will always be vigilant now that I know the problem is perpetual.

And I'm not yet convinced her diet is inadequate. I'll concede she could benefit from B vitamins but I have no evidence that the B vitamins would have prevented such a popular problem with that species. Without controlled studies the niacin is only a theory. None of my other birds (4 rouens + 4 geese) have that trouble so there is something specific to the genetics of the pekin.

Maybe the duck is inbred. I've read on other threads that people won't buy ducks from TSC for whatever reason. Here is one https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/duck-with-turned-in-feet.645617/

Who knows what the problem is. Everything is speculation at this point.

I'm skeptical you would be able to get her back on the pond safely with the geese since she's the only duck. Like you found out, the geese can do a lot of damage quickly.
Truly you must love her if you have been willing to do all this extra work. I'm very practical when it comes to my homestead animals and I know I would have put her down a while ago.

I don't feel like her life is so bad that it warrants putting her down.

Normally when a duck is alone I suggest getting new friends for her, but unless you radically change how you are feeding her and we figure out why she's getting maggots late, I don't think that would be wise.
As another poster said, are you positive that they are maggots and not perhaps some other bug? It's very odd that without a wound they would be laying on her continually.
You said she sits all day. Does she preen at all? Using that oil gland above their tail, they spread oil around their feathers and helps make them waterproof.

I don't know if they are maggots but they are worms that look like maggots and they correlate with flies.

Yes she preens. She is waterproof. Peroxide rolls off like water on a waxed car.

 

[SittinDuck]

What about a mixing tub? That's shallow, not deep, and she wouldn't have too much trouble getting in. Or building a ramp to a trough? I use a trough and have a plastic faucet installed for emptying.
I agree with the niacin deficiency - even though she's older, I'd start giving her liquid super complex as well as giving it to the other ducks.

I could build something but I never imaged this would be anything more than temporary.

Yes I'll try to incorporate more B vitamins into their diet.

 

[SittinDuck]

I can't find the comment where you posted the super b complex you have - that would work, but I think the recommended dose is at least 40mg per day, so with the issues, I'd crush up two tablets. Whatever the body doesn't need will be flushed out.

So I can't give too much? I was worried about that. I shaved off some of a tablet last night into her water but I doubt she consumed much of it. The pills I have are time released so it's not dissolving in water very well.

 

[Painted Calls]

A dog will pick treats and human food over kibble every time. A horse will pick apples over hay every time.

You need to give then what they need, and not what they "crave".

It's becoming clear to me that you're not interested in taking proper care of your animals, so I'm walking away from this one. I wish you and your poor duck the best.

 

[cherrynberry]

A dog will pick treats and human food over kibble every time. A horse will pick apples over hay every time.

You need to give then what they need, and not what they "crave".

It's becoming clear to me that you're not interested in taking proper care of your animals, so I'm walking away from this one. I wish you and your poor duck the best.

Agreed. My chickens definitely prefer mealworms. Doesn't mean its the best for them. Its part of being a responsible owner.

I have several chickens that are as old as your duck. They are doing just fine and do not have leg issues. One did deal will flystrike this year, but has healed. I clean her bottom every day. She is a fluffy bottomed chicken, so I often have to clip her feathers as well. Her sister is doing good though.

@SittinDuck I do not get why you stand by your way of feeding even though your duck is clearly unwell. She is old, but she is not living life to the fullest. Its not about giving them what they want, but instead, whats best for them.

Here are my two older ladies. They are living life to the fullest. By the way, it isn't easy, but it is worth it.