My runner duck has stopped laying

[Hilarys Home]

Our runners are one year old. Up until recently they were free ranging in our half an acre garden and coming back to sleep in their fox proof house at night We had 2 females and they were both pretty much laying every day.

Then they got attacked by something (we didn't see what). One of the female ducks limped for a couple of days and died leaving us with one female and one male. They have definitely been spooked by something they are really reluctant to come out of their house and she has stopped laying.

If she has stopped laying for the year then so be it but my main concern is that she is holding the eggs her abdomen is still swollen as though she is going to lay.

If she stopped laying because of the shock is that dangerous? I don't like taking them to the vet unless it is necessary as they get quite traumatised if they are handled.

 

[purplesquirrel]

You need to pick her up and give her a feel I think.
Even my tame runner duck doesn't like being cornered and grabbed. But if you sit her down on your lap somewhere quiet and put a tea towel on her head to cover he eyes, move slowly and talk calmly and touch her very slowly, they normally go very still.
Just gently feel her back end and abdomen, it should be soft with her muscles and organs, but it can feel hard if she tenses up out of nervousness, so should hold your hand there and wait for to relax.

I have never had an animal get egg bound, but I've read a lot about it. If you feel something hard below the vent, it might be an egg nearly ready.
But other than that, the trauma of violence will stop her laying because she doesn't feel safe. This doesn't mean she's 'holding it in' rather that her body stops making one.

She might be holding herself strangely or looking swollen from an injury?

Are you sure something didn't attack them and they all ran into their house and hurt themselves? Is there a steep ramp and small entrance hole? They may have injured themselves inside the house, if a Fox was on the outside frightening them by making loud noises trying to get in...

Is there a possibility she may have been broody and has been scared off the nest but still isn't laying?
How long ago did the attack happen?

 

[Hilarys Home]

Hi thankyou for your reply. I have checked her out and she is soft underneath. That would seem to suggest that she has no eggs coming, which is a relief as it implies that she has just stopped due to the fright they had. (why didn't I do that in the first place?!)

I took the opportunity of checking her properly while I had her out and she has a small area on her lower back that has been bleeding but otherwise seems ok. The bleeding bit is on an area that she is pretty much bald at the moment through moulting but I am assuming that she must have been attacked too as I can't imagine her or her man making a wound like that. When they were attacked they were living in an Eglu. Nothing in there to hurt themselves on inside but they do get caught up in the door frame of the run sometimes or run into it when they are scared. Checked the drake too he looks fine.

Thank you so much it has put my mind at rest, at least about the egg situation now I only have to worry about the predator!
I love this site!
Sharon

 

[jducour]

If your duck is currently moulting, that could be the reason she isn't laying eggs. Creating new feathers is a lot of work, and they usually don't make eggs at the same time. Stress can also bring on an early molt, so I am sure this could be connected. My girls had a space of 4 to 6 weeks that they didn't lay an egg when they molted.

 

[Hilarys Home]

Thank you for info it is all a learning curve at the moment it is the first time we have had ducks.
Your input is muchly appreciated!

 

[purplesquirrel]

Glad to be of some help. All the best to them,maybe give them extra treat?