Peking Duck Won't Eat

[HopefulAcres]

My poor Aster has not eaten at all this week. She was semi broody for about two weeks before snapping out of it. A few days later we noticed she wasn't extending her neck and was walking slow. Our first thought was she was injured which isn't uncommon for her clutsy self. Our drake is a bit too Randy right now so maybe he is to blame?

This past week she hasn't eaten anything and won't dip her beak down for water. We put her in a cage for a few days to see what her poo is like and to exam in her body. Poo is just pale green water. I assume because she has no food in her system. Her crop is completely empty and her vent is clear, no blood or visible mites. Her neck feathers are puffed up which made me think she was swollen but there isn't any swelling.

I put water and feed bowls up at neck level and she did drink but not vigorously like she should. She would sniff the food but didn't eat it. Not even her favorite mealworms.

Our TSC doesn't have water soluble antibiotics so I don't know what to use if this is a bacterial infection. She used to weigh five pounds but is now two pounds at best. I am worried she will starve if we can't get food in her some how. I was hesitant to force feed her so I didn't.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Our local vets don't like dealing with birds so I haven't bothered with them. Could she be sick from being broody or injured from our psycho drake?

In the picture Aster is in the back. Her sister Daisy waddled into the pic to compare the differences. Aster has always been smaller than her sister. You can see her hunched neck, she pretty much stands like this all day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Brooding can sure take it toll especially if they don't eat much while sitting. My advise would be to tube feed her usually once you can get some good nutrition into them they will start eating on their own.

@casportpony has good info on tube feeding.
@Patrick McKee tube feed his duck that was recovering from a pred attack.

 

[chickens really]

Picture looks like her crop is full..Swelling or fluid?..Put her in a crate to rest and see if she will eat wet soupy feed with sugar or electrolytes in her water..

 

[HopefulAcres]

Picture looks like her crop is full..Swelling or fluid?..Put her in a crate to rest and see if she will eat wet soupy feed with sugar or electrolytes in her water..

It looks swollen but it isn't all that "swelling is just puffy feathers. When we pick her up we can feel her breast bone and no crop fullness. We had her in a cage for a few days and she wouldn't eat anything we offered. She did take some electrolyte and probiotic water but no food.

 

[casportpony]

It looks swollen but it isn't all that "swelling is just puffy feathers. When we pick her up we can feel her breast bone and no crop fullness. We had her in a cage for a few days and she wouldn't eat anything we offered. She did take some electrolyte and probiotic water but no food.

Can you take her to a vet? If not, you might want to consider giving her antibiotics. If she were mine I would get her in a warm cage/room, tube warmed fluids, then fluids and baby bird food. I would also start her on a powerful antibiotic and I would deworm her. Do you have any human antibiotics?

 

[Quackers3211]

She might starve to death if you don’t force feed her. Sometimes they just get so drained and force feeding them can help them. I foster for a rescue and we have kittens that need to be force fed and then after a few days they perk right up and start eating agian. Her Blood sugar has probably dropped dangerously low I really do recommend force feeding her small amounts periodically since she has not eaten in awhile.

 

[chickens really]

It looks swollen but it isn't all that "swelling is just puffy feathers. When we pick her up we can feel her breast bone and no crop fullness. We had her in a cage for a few days and she wouldn't eat anything we offered. She did take some electrolyte and probiotic water but no food.

Possibly stressed is she back out with the others?. Could she of swallowed metal?..

 

[casportpony]

@HopefulAcres , this is a thread I am working on.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1...rgency-and-supportive-care-updated-10-30-2016

You might find some helpful info there.

 

[Quackers3211]

Deworming her might be bad seeing as how skinny she is and that she won’t eat. I’d try reading into deworming ducks. Try adding apple cider vinegar into her water. It has to be put in a plastic bowl no metal. This helps deworm and has good stuff in it for them. Good luck I’m rooting for y’all!

 

[casportpony]

She might starve to death if you don’t force feed her. Sometimes they just get so drained and force feeding them can help them. I foster for a rescue and we have kittens that need to be force fed and then after a few days they perk right up and start eating agian. Her Blood sugar has probably dropped dangerously low I really do recommend force feeding her small amounts periodically since she has not eaten in awhile.

This is true, she does need to be fed and her blood sugar is probably low, but her hydration must be corrected first. Force feeding a dehydrated animal can kill them.