Sick duck—coccidiosis or something else?

[Michelin]

I suggest you start the birds on activated charcoal, then follow up with a round of Baytril. In addition with that, you must maintain hydration, and nutritional levels via tube feeding if they are not willing to eat, or drink. Multiple birds being affected is suggestive the problem is related to an environmental-related problem such as bacterial ingestion, or toxin ingestion which can occur subsequent to eating decaying carcasses, decaying vegetation, moldy feed, and/or maggots.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/tube-feeding-ducks-updated-5-7-2020.1211994/

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/baytril-10

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-Valley-Activated-Charcoal-520mg-Capsules-60-Count/192114718

Thank you! Is baytril something TSC would carry?

 

[Isaac 0]

Is baytril something TSC would carry?

Baytril (Enrofloxacin) can only be obtained online. The dosage is 0.05ml per pound of body weight, given orally, for five days.

If you order with the link I suggested you should be able to get the Baytril in a few days but start the activated charcoal prior to that. Do not give antibiotics, and activated charcoal together.

 

[Michelin]

My husband is going to get some activated charcoal on his way home and I ordered the baytril.

I brought the second duck inside but she is not as bad and has just been standing in her crate for a couple hours now (won’t sit!). Am I stressing her by taking her away from the others? Should I put her in with the other sick duck?

 

[Michelin]

I’ll just keep her in. I just mixed up some charcoal water for both of them (1tsp/cup). My plan was to let them drink it for awhile, then take it out for the night and leave electrolyte water instead. And then repeat in the morning? The thread about flushes said to do it 6-8 times per day but not how many days, and does “one time” mean they need to drink the whole cup every time?

 

[KaleIAm]

I’ll just keep her in. I just mixed up some charcoal water for both of them (1tsp/cup). My plan was to let them drink it for awhile, then take it out for the night and leave electrolyte water instead. And then repeat in the morning? The thread about flushes said to do it 6-8 times per day but not how many days, and does “one time” mean they need to drink the whole cup every time?

I'm unfamiliar with the thread about charcoal water, but I doubt my ducks ever drink an entire cup 8 times daily. I'm sure they splash most of it.

The website I posted before says, "Activated charcoal: Administered orally at 1 g/kg of body weight, twice a day for the first 24 to 48 hours."

http://www.duckdvm.com/condition/botulism

Edit: you might consider giving them a bowl of plain water as well in case they don't like the taste of the electrolyte water. At least they will be drinking something.

 

[Isaac 0]

How are they this morning?

Instead of administering the activated charcoal via their water, I would do so orally instead.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-give-a-duck-a-pill.1213474/

 

[Michelin]

They both seem about the same this morning. They also both drank most of their electrolyte water, which is good because I hadn’t thought about them not liking the taste!

I wasn’t sure on their body weight because I don’t own a scale, so putting it in water seemed safer in regards to calculation. This is the thread I was talking about.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal.700526/

 

[Michelin]

How are they this morning?

Instead of administering the activated charcoal via their water, I would do so orally instead.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-give-a-duck-a-pill.1213474/

Okay I borrowed a scale and they both weigh 4.8 lbs. so that’s about 2 kg. If I give them 1 g/kg and on the spring valley brand each dose is 520 mg in TWO pills. So I would need to give them each 8 pills? That seems crazy! How many would you give? I got the kind you linked.

 

[KaleIAm]

They both seem about the same this morning. They also both drank most of their electrolyte water, which is good because I hadn’t thought about them not liking the taste!

I wasn’t sure on their body weight because I don’t own a scale, so putting it in water seemed safer in regards to calculation. This is the thread I was talking about.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal.700526/

I'm very happy they aren't worse, and that they drank their water!

In these situations where birds may not be eating well it is a good idea to monitor their weight regularly. I purchased a baby scale and weigh my sick birds daily. Anorexia in birds is dangerous, they can't last as long as humans without eating.

I'm not sure about the activated charcoal capsules. It does seem like a lot, especially compared to the human dose. Personally, I always consult my avian vet, but I understand that isn't an option for you. I haven't used charcoal in my ducks before. My vet has had me give other meds at 6 capsules twice daily per duck, so it isn't unheard of to give a larger quantity. If I was unable to go to the vet I would trust the website I posted, it appears scientific with good veterinary references.

If you are nervous about the quantity I assume some activated charcoal is better than none. I don't believe it is like an antibiotic where they have to get the entire dose. My understanding is that the sooner you give them the activated charcoal to them consuming the spoiled food the better.

 

[Isaac 0]

Okay I borrowed a scale and they both weigh 4.8 lbs. so that’s about 2 kg. If I give them 1 g/kg and on the spring valley brand each dose is 520 mg in TWO pills. So I would need to give them each 8 pills? That seems crazy! How many would you give? I got the kind you linked.

Dosages are not always in favor of convenience, unfortunately. If dosing all eight capsules at once is too much, you can split it up throughout the day ( four for each in the morning, four at night). If you have tube feeding supplies, you can break the capsules up into the water, and directly gavage the mixture into their crop. Activated charcoal is not toxic unless given in extremely large quantities.

website I posted, it appears scientific with good veterinary references.

It does have a lot of great information, but a *lot* of their dosages are incorrect.