- Sep 3, 2013
- 6
- 0
- 7
I have a 2 year old drake that I thought was injured, now I am thinking he is sick instead. 2 nights ago I lost another drake from a predator. Everyone went to bed healthy, but when I got them out of their house the next morning this drake was very lethargic and holding its neck back which looked strange. I thought one of the females had beat him up as she was shooing him away and thought she might have picked on his neck from the way he was holding it, but when I got him to stretch it out, I do not see any damage.
I figured the easiest way to describe it was to use the checklist and answer best I can...
1) What type of bird - Drake Mallard, 2 years old
2) What is the behavior, exactly. - Lethargic but can walk fine if he wants to... not eating, barely drinking (I think he might be wheezing some too, but I am not sure as it is only when he is "talking")
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms - 2 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms - no (there are 7 other mallards but all healthy)
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma - no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. - had a predator attack the night before and thought it might be from picking a new pecking order (top male was taken), but now I think it might be coincidence.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. - a little water, I tried to get him some vitamin water, but so far he didn't take it
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. - not sure what it should look like... it is whitish light green with dark flecks
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? he is sitting in a warm bath right now... that has helped him drink a little and go to the bathroom some (had not really seen him go much other than the bath)
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? Vet isn't really an option
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use - while injured, he is in the pen by himself during the day and in a 3x2 cage in the garage at night with dry hay
Thanks so much for any help!
I figured the easiest way to describe it was to use the checklist and answer best I can...
1) What type of bird - Drake Mallard, 2 years old
2) What is the behavior, exactly. - Lethargic but can walk fine if he wants to... not eating, barely drinking (I think he might be wheezing some too, but I am not sure as it is only when he is "talking")
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms - 2 days
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms - no (there are 7 other mallards but all healthy)
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma - no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. - had a predator attack the night before and thought it might be from picking a new pecking order (top male was taken), but now I think it might be coincidence.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. - a little water, I tried to get him some vitamin water, but so far he didn't take it
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. - not sure what it should look like... it is whitish light green with dark flecks
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? he is sitting in a warm bath right now... that has helped him drink a little and go to the bathroom some (had not really seen him go much other than the bath)
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? Vet isn't really an option
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use - while injured, he is in the pen by himself during the day and in a 3x2 cage in the garage at night with dry hay
Thanks so much for any help!
