My call ducks have the same illness... help

[Oshi55]

Hi everyone! I have 5 newer call ducklings, they are around 4 months old and over the past week (or so) two of the ducklings and one of my senior call ducks have developed this strange "cough" -- it sounds very watery, and they have recently begun to sneeze a lot. All 3 of these guys go into the water very regularly, have unlimited access to a pond, and are in a clean environment. I have never had any waterfowl vaccinated before, and am potentially open to that. But for now, could someone recommend me what to give them, or what this might be?? I feel so lost; any help is much appreciated!

Pics of my babies and other ducks below :,)

 

[ruthhope]

@Oshi55 Sorry to bring you bad news, but your calls could have Avian Flu
" Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks | American Veterinary Medical Association https://share.google/KYVxNDV8JFNH4FV68 "

You have to scroll down a long way to get to the symptoms.

By law, you should report your flocks ill health. USDA will not test and wait and see with your ducks in quarantine. They will euthanase first and test afterwards. If you consult a vet, the vet will certainly report to USDA

.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I found this diagnostic chart to be very helpful
http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/diagnostic chart.htm

 

[Jenbirdee]

You can try using vet rx it’s a natural remedy for respiratory symptoms. It’s sort of like Vicks VapoRub for humans, but you can use it for chickens and ducks. It has instructions on the little bottles. It may not cure them, but it definitely is a comforting measure.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Can you post a video of them coughing?
What do you feed them?
You can also try putting some apple cider vinegar, the kind with the mother, into their drinking water 1 tablespoon per gallon.

 

[Oshi55]

@Oshi55 Sorry to bring you bad news, but your calls could have Avian Flu
" Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks | American Veterinary Medical Association https://share.google/KYVxNDV8JFNH4FV68 "

You have to scroll down a long way to get to the symptoms.

By law, you should report your flocks ill health. USDA will not test and wait and see with your ducks in quarantine. They will euthanase first and test afterwards. If you consult a vet, the vet will certainly report to USDA

.

Hi! I've read the symptoms and they don't add up for this, up where I live reporting it is not mandatory until confirmed (currently awaiting that as they are already quarantined) although I live very far up north in Ontario, and on all reported maps I've found nothing within 300 km of me. Thank you for looking out for this virus! It's a terrible one for sure

 

[Oshi55]

You can try using vet rx it’s a natural remedy for respiratory symptoms. It’s sort of like Vicks VapoRub for humans, but you can use it for chickens and ducks. It has instructions on the little bottles. It may not cure them, but it definitely is a comforting measure.

Hi! Thanks so much for the advice! I will make sure to apply some tonight and see it that helps.

 

[Oshi55]

Can you post a video of them coughing?
What do you feed them?
You can also try putting some apple cider vinegar, the kind with the mother, into their drinking water 1 tablespoon per gallon.

Yes! Tomorrow I can try to get a video for you. I feed them 1/3 waterfowl feed, a small amount of scratch, and 1/3 layer pellets. I also feed them live earthworms, frozen minnows, and a huge variety of safe fruits. I will definitely try the apple cider vinegar trick; thanks so much!

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Hi everyone! I have 5 newer call ducklings, they are around 4 months old and over the past week (or so) two of the ducklings and one of my senior call ducks have developed this strange "cough" -- it sounds very watery, and they have recently begun to sneeze a lot. All 3 of these guys go into the water very regularly, have unlimited access to a pond, and are in a clean environment. I have never had any waterfowl vaccinated before, and am potentially open to that. But for now, could someone recommend me what to give them, or what this might be?? I feel so lost; any help is much appreciated!

Apple Cider Vinegar would be a good idea...
...but do think to NOT use metal waterer, or you could kill your ducks...!

(For the record : I would NOT use Apple Cider Vinegar for more than 24-36 hours.)

You could also mix some Thyme with their food : it won't hurt them.

Pics of my babies and other ducks below :,)

What do you use as duck bedding?

And do your ducks have access to a bigger space...? With a lot more of sunlight and grass than they seem to have with your pictures?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Oh yes Papeye is right to ask about bedding as, bedding can cause respiratory issues depending on what is used in the condition of it I once had a bail of straw was not fresh and three of my ducks caught aspergillosis, two of them recovered well, but one of them passed away a few months later. Now I am very careful about the condition of straw I use in the winter and in the summer I use horse bedding, which is pressurized pine pellets, and pine flakes on top of that.
There is a protocol for treating asper now they didn’t used to be, there are links to the treatments, suggested by majestic waterfowl sanctuary that are included in the diagnostic chart that I posted above.
But as for the apple cider vinegar, I put 1 tablespoon per gallon of their drinking water in their non-metal buckets for a few days in a row about once a month have done this for 10 years and I have ducks that are 10 years old still doing well