Sick Ducks.

[brandovoigt]

I have had 2 female ducks die, they had a hard time breathing, their chest heaving in an out, then a few days to few weeks they suffocate to death, please help, another female just got the disease tonight.

 

[Orca5094]

Sounds like possibly asper (aspergillosis), which is a fungal infection in the lungs. What are their living conditions like? Fresh, dry bedding? Do they have any exposure to wet/moldy areas? Asper is pretty much found everywhere in the environment, but birds typically don't succumb to it unless they are already weak from something else, or if kept in wet and moldy conditions.

Could also be some other kind of respiratory disease as well, of course. Hard to know for sure without getting a necropsy done on them. Do you have other ducks? If so, you might want to do a really good clean of their areas and disinfect everything you can.

 

[brandovoigt]

I should clean out their pen, I will start there, and it's so weird because only females have gotten it. Thanks

 

[Orca5094]

No problem, wish I could help more! And sorry for your losses. :/

 

[brandovoigt]

It might have been my compost pile, so i fenced it off. It might be that, what do you guys think?

 

[Amiga]

Ideally, you could find a good duck vet.

Aside from that, you can make some guesses. It could be fungal (aspergillus), or bacterial. If it is bacterial, then antibiotic ought to help - but you need to choose the right antibiotic, and that's where a vet can help.

If there is just no way, then one option is to read up and make your best guess on the antibiotic to use, and try it.

Another thing to try is to sprinkle some oregano - maybe a teaspoon per cup of feed - into their food. It is said to be a natural antimicrobial.

Making sure there are no molds in the bedding and the shelter is a good idea, too, and they do need good ventilation.

 

[brandovoigt]

Thanks