Skin infection, skinny, opening beak with no quack

[Quackalack]

Hi, I have a male Ancona duck that has a weird chunk of skin growth or scab-like thing in a couple spots under his wings and he feels very skinny. The skin thing was able to be moved and wiggled, it almost seems like matted feathers but like they're growing the wrong direction. His breathing also seems raspy and both of my ducks were opening their mouth without quacking during pool time (YouTube link). The one with the skin thing was on antibiotics (enrofloxacin and albon) a couple months ago when he stopped eating. Wondering if I should start them both on the enro or maybe another antibiotic?

Thanks!

Getting a vet appointment is challenging and getting the vet to perform diagnostics even more so. The last vet saw his green poop and automatically wrote him off as hardware poisoning and didn't want to do an X-ray because they wouldn't be able to do surgery anyway.

 

[Jenbirdee]

does it smell bad? how about giving a good long soak in epsom salted warm water and then try to clean off some of that matted area - i’m just concerned maybe maggots got in there?
@Miss Lydia

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with cleaning with warm water. Is there a way for you to get into this mat If it only feathers get him good and wet and try working your fingers through I'd say trim but you want to make sure not to cut into skin. Open mouth breathing can mean respiratory.
Tell us about feed treats bedding etc please. Any supplements you give.

 

[Quackalack]

I agree with cleaning with warm water. Is there a way for you to get into this mat If it only feathers get him good and wet and try working your fingers through I'd say trim but you want to make sure not to cut into skin. Open mouth breathing can mean respiratory.
Tell us about feed treats bedding etc please. Any supplements you give.

does it smell bad? how about giving a good long soak in epsom salted warm water and then try to clean off some of that matted area - i’m just concerned maybe maggots got in there?
@Miss Lydia

Thanks! I will try to give him a bath and smell when he wakes up from his nap. I didn't even consider maggots . They have a dirt floor for their night coop that I don't clean as often as I should and they are free range in the yard all day. I only have two ducks. Food they get duck pellets, I think Purina plus sunflower chips, soldier fly larva, watermelon and cat food. Plus whatever they eat in the yard. Cat food was the only thing Snickers would eat when he got sick and I am afraid I am giving him too much but that if I don't give it to him then I'm worried he's not eating enough.

I got him and Puddles a vet appointment for the morning so we'll see if they think testing would help at all or if I should just treat based on symptoms. I think Snickers does have a respiratory infection or something going on with is lungs anyway. Feet were normal temperature.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Please let us know what they say.

 

[Quackalack]

I will update after the appointment. Here is a better picture of the chunk of skin thing. It's on both sides of his body hidden by his wings. The yellow part lies against his body but I was peeling it away for the picture. I forgot to give it a whiff and didn't give him an epsom bath. I'll wait to see what the vet thinks about it first.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully the vet can clip it out and see what the heck it is.

 

[Quackalack]

Hopefully the vet can clip it out and see what the heck it is.

Just got back! They were just scabs! The vet was able to pull the rest of it off. He thinks they were probably from my other drake getting a bit rough. We got an antibiotic (Orbax) to treat his respiratory infection so hopefully he stops being so picky once he feels better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a relief nothing serious with the weird feathers. I hope the Orbax clears up the infection. You might want to keep him separated from your other drake so his stress levels doesn't hinder his recovery. Please keep up updated on how he is doing

 

[Quackalack]

What a relief nothing serious with the weird feathers. I hope the Orbax clears up the infection. You might want to keep him separated from your other drake so his stress levels doesn't hinder his recovery. Please keep up updated on how he is doing

Funny enough I haven't noticed any overzealous behavior between them lately, particularly since they started molting, and even before that there were only a handful of times I saw some mating/dominant behavior. I'll keep an eye out for them but they were so happy to see each other when I brought snickers back. They are my only two ducks so separating them is a last resort. =(