Sick duckling Part 3

[Jenwa098]

So my little Indian Runner who was weak made a lot of progress over the first 4 days. (I added probiotic and electrolyte to the water and offered plain water.) It was eating voraciously and drinking and active, though it would tire much more quickly than the others. It's eyes cleared up and it seemed like it might just be okay.

However, tonight it appears to have blood on the corners of it's bill...not coming OUT of the bill, but on what would be the corners of our mouths, if that makes any sense. It is NOT breathing rapidly, but it is lethargic. I went back to adding electrolyte and probiotic, but I don't have any antibiotic available tonight...Does this sound like a niacin thing? I could run to the store tonight, but I am not sure if it is just something congenital that has finally caught up as the duckling grows? I have become so attached to it since I have been cheering it on all week. Any ideas would be helpful. I do have a heat lamp on and of course it is more stressed if I try to take it away than if I just leave it with the group...

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Why do you think you need antibiotic?

Have you tried inspecting the bill for cuts or even an object jammed in his throat? I would just offer Apple Cider Vinegar (1-2Tablespoons/gal) into the drinking water. It is antiseptic and will encourage healing. Make sure that drinking water is deep enough for him to submerge his bill.

 

[Jenwa098]

Hi HollyDuck...I guess I figured if the duckling has not been 100% and now has these weird red/bloody areas by it's bill perhaps there is some kind of infection going on...especially with the lethargy. I am not a big "give them drugs" kind of person, but I am just not sure what else to do.

I did look her over (I feel bad saying "it" all the time) and don't see anything lodged. My husband insists she seemed fine (or basically behaving the same as she had been) and he said she was eating and drinking today and active. Then, when I looked at her tonight: lethargic and this weird bill thing, I looked at it very close under the light and it just appears very red, not ON the bill per se, but directly behind it. The hen is still trying to sit on all 8, and is very gentle and protective, so I don't think she or the ducklings did anything to her.

Thank you for the tip on the on the apple cider vinegar! I will try that...perhaps I will dab a little of the weak solution on the area just in case, too.

 

[subhanalah]

Could it be a sign of some sort of blood infection? Like if it was a "mushy chick"?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I don't know what "mushy chick" is @subhanalah. I have seen minor bill injuries that bleed a little tho. I guess I would think that if you were dealing with a systemic infection, and antibiotics were warranted, you'd be seeing other symptoms as well. Primarily not eating or drinking.

Wouldn't you need a blood culture to Dx that also, to be certain of choosing the right antibiotic to treat the particular bacteria (if that's even what you're dealing with)?

Maybe you should start a new thread in the Emergencies/Diseases Section there.

(And don't feel badly for saying "it"-- the word simply is a pronoun for something which you do not know the gender for)

 

[Jenwa098]

The littlest duckling is still hanging in there. She is half the size of the other ducklings and still gets tired before the others. My husband pointed out her eyes are smaller than the others' too. Not squinty smaller, but literally smaller. So who knows what else might be wrong, but she has made it to day 6 (maybe 7 since I am not sure exactly when she hatched).

The weird red marks have disappeared on their own, before I could add apple cider vinegar. I did provide probiotic and electrolyte again.

Today I allowed them into a pool with a little water. The other ducklings just walked around but Littlest (which is the name it seems to have been given) would try to paddle around, though the water wasn't deep enough. They all LOVED the pool and had a blast. When Littlest seemed to be wearing down I took them all out. They are all enjoying the sunshine and I can almost see them growing. Thanks for the advice and help everyone has offered through various threads. I am still worked about the sick sparrows around...but so far everyone is making it.