graypes
Songster
- Jun 19, 2020
- 400
- 489
- 161
Omg I just wrote a really long post and then deleted it UGH
Okay so with my drake, after antibiotics, he still wasn't eating and was doing the same stuff your duck is doing like pushing food around etc.
since his main symptoms cleared up, his antibiotics and wormers were finished and it had been more than 2ish weeks since he started showing symptoms (duck viral enteritis was a possibility, and because he lived longer than 14 days, my vet said it prob wasn't DVE), I decided to allow him to hang with his sister wives. But because they eat a lot and his appetite still isn't 100%, I decided to keep them together but separate so I could monitor his intake without getting fooled by the girls' voracious appetite. I got two 50-55gal clear plastic tubs and put them side by side. Filled them with bedding and gave them each food and water. I put the skinny drake in one tub and his mates in the other to boost his moral. This way, he could still kiss and physically be close to his pals, which helped curb his depression (ducks get it too!) and helped his appetite. Also, the sound of his mates eating and drinking encouraged him to eat and drink too!
Appetites are slow to come back after severe illness. Just like with humans, when we get really bad stomach flu or gut infections that make us feel bad for a week, even after the illness goes away, our stomachs have "shrank" and food isn't that appetizing. I imagine its similar for sick ducks!
Have you been watching her weight? With my drake, that was the #1 way I tracked his progress. That also let me know when he lost too much weight which helped me know if I needed to keep tube feeding him or increase the tube feed mixture. After he got fatter and his energy was 100% I stopped tube feeding, but he still isn't very hungry EXCEPT for treats (he'll only eat those and ignore the pellets). I am decreasing his treat amount in the feed and that is helping. The main thing that helps is that he is near his mates and he can hang with them in the day!
I think I missed a lot of your questions, but I hope that helps!!!
Okay so with my drake, after antibiotics, he still wasn't eating and was doing the same stuff your duck is doing like pushing food around etc.
since his main symptoms cleared up, his antibiotics and wormers were finished and it had been more than 2ish weeks since he started showing symptoms (duck viral enteritis was a possibility, and because he lived longer than 14 days, my vet said it prob wasn't DVE), I decided to allow him to hang with his sister wives. But because they eat a lot and his appetite still isn't 100%, I decided to keep them together but separate so I could monitor his intake without getting fooled by the girls' voracious appetite. I got two 50-55gal clear plastic tubs and put them side by side. Filled them with bedding and gave them each food and water. I put the skinny drake in one tub and his mates in the other to boost his moral. This way, he could still kiss and physically be close to his pals, which helped curb his depression (ducks get it too!) and helped his appetite. Also, the sound of his mates eating and drinking encouraged him to eat and drink too!
Appetites are slow to come back after severe illness. Just like with humans, when we get really bad stomach flu or gut infections that make us feel bad for a week, even after the illness goes away, our stomachs have "shrank" and food isn't that appetizing. I imagine its similar for sick ducks!
Have you been watching her weight? With my drake, that was the #1 way I tracked his progress. That also let me know when he lost too much weight which helped me know if I needed to keep tube feeding him or increase the tube feed mixture. After he got fatter and his energy was 100% I stopped tube feeding, but he still isn't very hungry EXCEPT for treats (he'll only eat those and ignore the pellets). I am decreasing his treat amount in the feed and that is helping. The main thing that helps is that he is near his mates and he can hang with them in the day!
I think I missed a lot of your questions, but I hope that helps!!!