Multiple birds prolapsing.

[Jmiller89]

I’ve had multiple of my ducks prolapse in the last couple years but this year has been much worse with 1 dying and now I have another this morning that looks very bad and will likely die as well. What is causing this and how can I prevent it? Is it possibly genetics as my other breed of duck never did this, though I have had a goose do it in the past. Do I need to give them an extra supplement to help prevent it? The ducks are eating an organic chicken feed along with free ranging. They are not overweight and I add extra calcium periodically so I haven’t had anymore soft shell eggs. It’s very frustrating and I hate seeing the birds suffer and die on me. Any help is appreciated.

 

[azygous]

Prolapse is generally caused by an obstruction in the oviduct and the bird straining to clear the obstruction. Since you say the soft shell problem has been corrected, then perhaps the eggs are overly large which would cause difficulty in laying them.

Over-large eggs are usually caused by double yolks. Is that the case with eggs from these ducks?

What form of calcium have you been using as a supplement? What is the potency in milligrams? Is vitamin D also an ingredient? Different forms of calcium can be either easier or more difficult to absorb. Have you examined the feed label to see if other minerals are included that are necessary for calcium absorption? On the flip side, are you feeding things that are high in oxalic (spinach) and phytic (legumes and nuts) acids that can inhibit calcium absorption?

And finally, yes, genetics may be a factor in this tragedy when examination of all other factors fail to provide an answer.

 

[LaFleche]

The ducks are eating an organic chicken feed

What kind exactly?

Water fowl have different nutritional needs than chickens, so in addition to a genetic possibility I suspect nutritional/vitamin/mineral/electrolyte deficiencies.

 

[Jmiller89]

What kind exactly?

Water fowl have different nutritional needs than chickens, so in addition to a genetic possibility I suspect nutritional/vitamin/mineral/electrolyte deficiencies.

Corn/soy free new country organics layer. They also have oyster shell available but not sure they eat it.

 

[Jmiller89]

Thankfully the girl this morning mostly got herself back together and soaking for an hour.

 

[LaFleche]

Corn/soy free new country organics layer. They also have oyster shell available but not sure they eat it.

How much protein?
Could you post a picture of the ingredients list?

 

[Jmiller89]

How much protein?
Could you post a picture of the ingredients list?

This is what’s listed online for it.

 

[Jmiller89]

View attachment 3895438
This is what’s listed online for it.

They also free range and get bugs/worms from the yard/garden.

 

[LaFleche]

View attachment 3895438
This is what’s listed online for it.

Thank you.
Now compare it to the ingredient list on a water fowl starter/grower feed bag of the same brand and you will be able to see the differences.

Is there a reason you do provide just the chicken feed?

Are they store bought or did you hatch and raise them yourself?

 

[Jmiller89]

Thank you.
Now compare it to the ingredient list on a water fowl starter/grower feed bag of the same brand and you will be able to see the differences.

Is there a reason you do provide just the chicken feed?

Are they store bought or did you hatch and raise them yourself?

Don’t want the corn and soy in their feed for better egg quality as that’s their main purpose. I hatch all my birds and these ducks originated from a breeder (shipped eggs that I hatched). The main thing with Chicken feed was not to give medicated to ducks as they will overdose and die from it but otherwise I thought the ingredients were pretty similar and I had my other ducks on this with no problem. The other ducks originated from a hatchery.