Possible skin hives from allergy to duckling down? or maybe poop?

[PaulX]

Hello,

I've just developed skin hives since yesterday. I'm suspecting an allergic reaction to something.

It couldn't be the food since I didn't eat anything unusual and I've never had food allergy before.
It could be one certain medication that I've upped the dosage since 6 weeks ago, but it's 6 weeks ago, so..., and the doctor who prescribed the medication said it's very, very, unlikely.

Which brings down to... the ducklings that I hatched 6 days ago, that I keep in the brooder in my bedroom, and that I take out for cuddles on my chest often. I also got pooped on a few times.

But is that possible that I would be allergic to them? The skin hives is the only symptom, and I used to have ducklings before with no problem (albeit not on my chest and not in my bedroom). It is also my understanding that if I'm to be allergic to contact with the ducklings, then my skin hives should be on my chest, my neck, or my hands, but my skin hives are actually on my arms and legs, in my pants, and a very small spot on my stomach, which were never in contact with the ducklings. Since my skin hives are mainly all over the body, I'm leaning more towards it being about something I ingested.

Well if this subsides in 1 or to days then that's perfect, because I'd hate to have to put the ducklings outside when they're still this young. I want them to grow up to be as tame as possible.

Does anyone here have such allergy or have any knowledge of it?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you using Benadryl for the symptoms? I just don't know what the cause could be hopefully not your precious littles, but dander can be a problem. Is there any other place inside you can put them?

 

[townchicks]

It could be anything. Allergies only develop after exposure to a substance. So you could have had ducklings before and now be allergic to them. That happened to me with my pet rats. Could also be a food that previously you didn't react to. I'm leaning towards it being a food or the medication, when I get hives from handing something I'm allergic to, they are usually local to where I've touched them. However, if you get dander on your clothes, that could account for the other places. Try moving them to another room and not handling them for a couple of days. Pinning down an allergy is often a trial and error process. Keeping a log of everything you eat for the next month or so can also help narrow it down. Take Benadryl, and soak in a bath with baking soda. I've also found rubbing alcohol wiped on the hives, helps.

 

[chickens really]

My Son suffered from hives when he was young. He was allergic to artificial colours in candy and food. Was told it's caused by something he ate.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you think of anything you may have eaten that isn't the norm for you. This time of year especially with so many baking or buying things we don't normally eat.

Hope you can figure it out.

 

[Mandrogora]

What are you using for bedding in the brooder? You may be having a reaction to that and not the ducklings themselves.

 

[Kamorle]

We recently hatched a duckling and almost immediately after holding it my wife developed itchy hives, she's not allergic to anything else so it must be something to do with the duckling.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I doubt it was the ducklings. While it is possible, allergies normally are built up and reactions are a result of that build up which become worse with each exposure. You could be allergic to a food and show no symptoms for years, but continually eating that same food builds up until you see the result one day. For example, my family has a history of gluten allergies. As children we don't show any symptoms whatsoever, but when we get into our 20's we start to notice small symptoms. A family member who ignored the small symptoms until her 30's eventually one day ended up in the ER and since that ER visit she cannot even have a crumb or any form of gluten contamination without a severe reaction.

 

[Kamorle]

I doubt it was the ducklings. While it is possible, allergies normally are built up and reactions are a result of that build up which become worse with each exposure. You could be allergic to a food and show no symptoms for years, but continually eating that same food builds up until you see the result one day. For example, my family has a history of gluten allergies. As children we don't show any symptoms whatsoever, but when we get into our 20's we start to notice small symptoms. A family member who ignored the small symptoms until her 30's eventually one day ended up in the ER and since that ER visit she cannot even have a crumb or any form of gluten contamination without a severe reaction.

No this is 100% a reaction to the freshly hatched duckling and happened within a hour of holding it. It didn't poop on her or anything. She regularly handles the grown ducks and cleans the coups without a issue. But held that baby duck and boom hives like crazy.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Hello,

I've just developed skin hives since yesterday. Does anyone here have such allergy or have any knowledge of it?

I had a 'perfect storm' some time ago that landed me in the ER twice.

I later learned that I have a wheat, corn and nightshade allergy.

Just quitting wheat got rid of the eczema and sinus congestion.

In summary, unless you are violently allergic to ducks, it's probably a combination of a lot of small things having a cumulative effect.

Try taking several large doses of vitamin D several times a day for several days.