Sick Duck: Won’t eat or walk

[oliviamorris005]

Hello all! My 2 year old male Swedish duck seems to be sick. Two days ago, we found him laying next to our fence. I’m not sure if he got caught in it at all because he wasn’t bleeding and his wings, feet, etc looked normal. The day after, he was walking normally and eating normal. Starting yesterday though, he struggled to walk and could barely get around by scooting. He was eating yesterday but stopped this morning. If this continues, we will take him into the vet. He is still drinking but I am wondering if he needs electrolytes or vitamins at all. I am keeping him isolated in his pen with fresh straw, food, and water. I will take a closer look at him when I get home from work, but my dad is going to check on him throughout the day. Let me know what I can do, if anything, to help him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is he able to hold his head up? wondering if he may have gotten into something toxic? Maybe have dad look around where your drake is usually hanging out.
How does his poop look?

Here is info on how to treat botulism
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal.700526/

 

[oliviamorris005]

The shed was open and there was fertilizer in there, but it doesn't look like he got into it (although he could've I am not sure). He is still holding his head up and his poop looks normal, maybe a little runnier than normal. Thanks for the information!

 

[BelovedBirds]

The shed was open and there was fertilizer in there, but it doesn't look like he got into it (although he could've I am not sure). He is still holding his head up and his poop looks normal, maybe a little runnier than normal. Thanks for the information!

Could you get a photo of his poop? Just to be safe.

He's still drinking right, could you put some nutridrench in the water? I do this when my girls are feeling under the weather, if they stop eating, to give them a boost.

You might be able to tempt him to eat by adding water to his food (to make a mash), or by offering scrambled eggs.

If you have a feel of both legs, is there any heat/swelling? Are the bottoms of his feet clear, no bumps or scabs?

 

[oliviamorris005]

Could you get a photo of his poop? Just to be safe.

He's still drinking right, could you put some nutridrench in the water? I do this when my girls are feeling under the weather, if they stop eating, to give them a boost.

You might be able to tempt him to eat by adding water to his food (to make a mash), or by offering scrambled eggs.

If you have a feel of both legs, is there any heat/swelling? Are the bottoms of his feet clear, no bumps or scabs?

I will be sure to get a photo of his poop when I get home. I will also take a closer look at his legs/feet. Thanks for telling me about the nutridrench, I'll try that out.

 

[oliviamorris005]

Alrighty. So I checked his legs and feet more throughly and there wasn’t anything abnormal. He began eating again but I noticed his crop is a bit distended on the left side. I also will attach pictures of his poop.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What do you feed? and are the sticks or straw also part of his poop?

When they eat a lot it can cause their crop to look pretty big can you post some good Pictures? Does he always have a decent size tub or bucket to use when eating? they really need water to wash down their feed.

 

[oliviamorris005]

We feed the purina duck food, which isn’t the best and we are going to change it soon. The straw and sticks are not part if his poop. He has large water bins that he has access to (changed every other day). His crop is a lot less distended which is good! When comparing his crop to my other duck, it looks about the same (healthy/not distended). He has been opening his mouth a lot too, and I’m wondering what that could mean?

Also, I gave him some of the molasses solution and he seems a bit stronger and is eating too. He is regaining some leg strength which is good to see!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like he is doing better, very relieved to hear this.

Does he seem to be having trouble breathing?

 

[oliviamorris005]

Sounds like he is doing better, very relieved to hear this.

Does he seem to be having trouble breathing?

Thanks! Not that I can tell. His nostrils are clear and I don’t hear any labored breathing.