Muscovy, blood in feces.

[Miss Lydia]

I wonder, I know that the blood can be an indication that there is a parasite but is there another way for me to tell if that's what the problem is? It's one duck out of five that has bloody stool and everyone is acting as content as can be.
Also, has anyone experimented using Diatamacious Earth as a treatment for parasites?

Haunted55: I'm still working on getting a photo.

Take some poop to vet they will most likely do a fecal. I use to use DE for worming until I saw round worms in my chickens poop now I only use it to keep feed fresh.

 

[Haunted55]

Miss L is right in taking either the duck or a smaple to a Vet. Unless you can set up a home lab or the worms are so obvious you can see them with the naked eye, you'll never know for sure. Worming with Safeguard is very safe and just good husbandry. Whether you use it or one of the other mention products, it should be done as a matter of course at least once a year. Look at it this way...these birds are down in the dirt and are eating from the ground. There's a real good chance they are going to pick up the wrong thing with their foraging. To me, it just makes sense to be proactive in keeping the population of these little nasties down as much as possible.

 

[HortenseCumberbatch]

I will do the worming. Here are the photos requested. Please tell me if you have any ideas. Even if you don't have any ideas, let me know that you've looked? It doesn't really help that my deck is red. It's the only place I can get a good photo of the poops.

 

[Haunted55]

I looked and what is that pinkish thing that looks like a worm in the first picture? Is it or is it just part of something else?

 

[Amiga]

I looked and what is that pinkish thing that looks like a worm in the first picture? Is it or is it just part of something else?

That was my thought, also.

 

[HortenseCumberbatch]

I believe that is debris but the more I read and think about what you've all said parasites really make sense. You've all been so helpful. I feel a fool but didn't know I should be worming them once a year so I'm going to follow Haunted55's protocol. I will post as necessary but I will definitely let everyone know if/when this clears up.

 

[Amiga]

I believe that is debris but the more I read and think about what you've all said parasites really make sense. You've all been so helpful. I feel a fool but didn't know I should be worming them once a year so I'm going to follow Haunted55's protocol. I will post as necessary but I will definitely let everyone know if/when this clears up.

You're not a fool. Not all of us worm yearly. I do have fecal tests done on at least one duck in the flock to see if there is a problem, and I watch for symptoms. When Carmella lost her quack I took her to the vet to check for gapeworms. Just got fecal test results back yesterday for Sechs - no parasites.

Some of the management strategy is going to depend on whether there are or have been other animals around, history of infestation, weather, location, who knows what.

Although we aren't on a calendar schedule, the risk of parasites is always in the back of my mind. There are several things that can cause bleeding, and you started with the bacterial concern. You asked for help, you came to your own conclusion based on what was offered. Sounds like a good approach.

 

[Haunted55]

You're not a fool. Not all of us worm yearly. I do have fecal tests done on at least one duck in the flock to see if there is a problem, and I watch for symptoms. When Carmella lost her quack I took her to the vet to check for gapeworms. Just got fecal test results back yesterday for Sechs - no parasites.

Some of the management strategy is going to depend on whether there are or have been other animals around, history of infestation, weather, location, who knows what.

Although we aren't on a calendar schedule, the risk of parasites is always in the back of my mind. There are several things that can cause bleeding, and you started with the bacterial concern. You asked for help, you came to your own conclusion based on what was offered. Sounds like a good approach.

Xs 2!!!! How do you think I learned? Yep...the hard way. Because I don't have a Vet, I just do it. I do everyone at the same time and then I'm good unless something notcovered by Safeguard shows itself. Don't feel a fool! As Amiga said, you asked! I'd say that makes you pretty darned smart!

 

[HortenseCumberbatch]

Thanks for the encouraging words: Amiga and Haunted55.

I ended up worming using Wazine 17 to deworm them and will dose again in 10 days. I thought it had cleared up because I hadn't seen any bloody stool for the last two days but now I found another one. I wonder if I should have gone with Haunted55's protocol in the first place like I said I was. Is that what I should do next? Going to the vet isn't an option.

 

[Haunted55]

If you could find a Vet who will test a stool sample for you would be the best thing at this point. I don't believe the fees are the same as an office visit. Or find your State Vet's office and get it done through them. Somethings not quite right and you really do need to get this checked out somehow. Ducks, because of their higher body temperature, aren't normally prone to worms or other internal parasites. Filthy conditions can bring them on or adding new birds who may have been in less than desirable conditions can also bring them in. If you aren't having any of these things going on, you will need to look further and a Vet is able to do the right tests. We can only guess.