hschisel
Chirping
So our newest addition, Gertrude, might possibly have gapeworm, or some sort of parasite. I also could just be totally paranoid. Both of our ducks sleep indoors. Ferdinand is a diaper duck, but Gertrude is still young and small and doesn't fit into the diapers very well yet, plus she is still growing her feathers, so it's probably super sensitive and I don't want to hurt or stress her out. For now she has a pee pad down, with that natural almost like shredded paper towel kind of bedding used for hamsters or whatever. It does a really good job at absorbing anything that she rockets out at night, and keeps the smell from taking over! I digress..
A few weeks ago she was in for the night, and she was coughing a little. It sounded like she had a dry throat, or maybe even a piece of the bedding in there that she was trying to get out. I gave her some water and she seemed ok for a while. Later on that night she did it a few more times. She hasn't been coughing as of lately, but when she comes in at night and is relaxing, she looks as though she is outstretched and panting like she was super hot and tired (see attached picture). It's definitely not the case with the current weather tho. Her poo has also made me a bit nervous. It's either like the picture that I attached, or it's 'the 7th poo' that is loose and smelly enough to peel paint off the walls!
I need some advice. Does anything look worrisome in any of these pictures? I have diatomaceous earth that is spread everywhere, so they eat it when they forage and whatnot. I was thinking of getting a wormer liquid, but I don't want to give them anything like that if it's not totally necessary. What are your thoughts?
UPDATE: shortly after getting them to bed this evening, she started coughing a bunch! It sounds like she's coughing up a loogie
before she went to her bed, she was at the neater feeder grabbing a few bites of their pellet food and some water. I saw her shake her head and neck like she had something stuck in it. I'm almost positive now that she's got the gape 
We are going to take her and one of her poos in to be checked this morning. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was like a new mom listening to her baby breathing all night!
A few weeks ago she was in for the night, and she was coughing a little. It sounded like she had a dry throat, or maybe even a piece of the bedding in there that she was trying to get out. I gave her some water and she seemed ok for a while. Later on that night she did it a few more times. She hasn't been coughing as of lately, but when she comes in at night and is relaxing, she looks as though she is outstretched and panting like she was super hot and tired (see attached picture). It's definitely not the case with the current weather tho. Her poo has also made me a bit nervous. It's either like the picture that I attached, or it's 'the 7th poo' that is loose and smelly enough to peel paint off the walls!
I need some advice. Does anything look worrisome in any of these pictures? I have diatomaceous earth that is spread everywhere, so they eat it when they forage and whatnot. I was thinking of getting a wormer liquid, but I don't want to give them anything like that if it's not totally necessary. What are your thoughts?
UPDATE: shortly after getting them to bed this evening, she started coughing a bunch! It sounds like she's coughing up a loogie


We are going to take her and one of her poos in to be checked this morning. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was like a new mom listening to her baby breathing all night!
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