Solitary confinement or keeping a molting duck out of the rain/wind?

[austroberta]

Letting her float in a tub or warm water could help.

Ok. I'll try that. For how long should she be in the tub? Also, if I decide to go the Tums route, how much is enough?

 

[casportpony]

I just realized you might have been asking if her feathers are smooth or ruffled. They are definitely not ruffled. She's following her flock mates around but still quiet and a bit off to the side from them.

What I meant was is she still waterproof.

 

[casportpony]

Ok. I'll try that. For how long should she be in the tub? Also, if I decide to go the Tums route, how much is enough?

You wanna try for ~50 mg per pound.

Edited to add:
And at least an hour in warm water.

 

[austroberta]

What I meant was is she still waterproof.

Yes she has been very great about preening and has nice, waterproof feathers.

 

[casportpony]

Yes she has been very great about preening and has nice, waterproof feathers.

Good, wouldn't want her to spend the night out while damp.

 

[austroberta]

I have her in the bathtub and she pooped. I thought when ducks were about to lay an egg, their intestinal opening closes off until the egg passes. Could this be something else?

Before I brought her in the tub, she was well hidden in some bushes. I almost couldn't find her. She has been trying to stay hidden among bushes ever since I brought this up.

Just a note. I see she is drinking a lot.

 

[austroberta]

Good, wouldn't want her to spend the night out while damp.

By the way, thanks so very much for all your help!!!!!

 

[austroberta]

Alleluia! Here egg popped out!

It's another soft shelled egg.

Going forward, what do I do now?! She obviously has issue with calcium. I can do this every day (bathtub, etc), but long term, how can I help her. She has oyster shell at her disposal, but doesn't seem to eat it. She's not happy about the syringe, but I'll do it, if it will help her.

By the way, here's what I did. I put her in the tub, crushed a tums, and with my finger, put it in her mouth. She would take a mouthful of water and I think at least some of it got down. Then I saw her moving around, back and forth in the tub and then the egg came out.

 

[austroberta]

I'm keeping her in the tub for now. When can she go outside?

I've read that shell-less eggs are more difficult to pass, so maybe that was the issue?

By the way, this is the second time when the good advice of the BYC folks saved my rear...uh...duck. Thanks! I'm so grateful to have this website. I'd be lost otherwise!!!!

 

[casportpony]

I have her in the bathtub and she pooped. I thought when ducks were about to lay an egg, their intestinal opening closes off until the egg passes. Could this be something else?

They can still poop while the egg is in the shell gland.

Before I brought her in the tub, she was well hidden in some bushes. I almost couldn't find her. She has been trying to stay hidden among bushes ever since I brought this up.

Good you're keeping an eye on her, clearly she's not feeling well,

Just a note. I see she is drinking a lot.

When possibly egg bound, one of the things my vet has me do is give fluids, so it's good she's drinking.

By the way, thanks so very much for all your help!!!!!

You're welcome!

Alleluia! Here egg popped out!

t's another soft shelled egg.

Sigh... You might want to go to the pharmacy and pick up some calcium citrate with D3. Citrate because it's absorbed easier than carbonate.

Going forward, what do I do now?! She obviously has issue with calcium. I can do this every day (bathtub, etc), but long term, how can I help her. She has oyster shell at her disposal, but doesn't seem to eat it. She's not happy about the syringe, but I'll do it, if it will help her.

I think maybe you should try the pills, and now that you know what she looks like when trying to pass a softy, you'll know that you should soak her.

By the way, here's what I did. I put her in the tub, crushed a tums, and with my finger, put it in her mouth. She would take a mouthful of water and I think at least some of it got down. Then I saw her moving around, back and forth in the tub and then the egg came out.

How soon after you gave the calcium did she pass the egg?

I'm keeping her in the tub for now. When can she go outside?

She can go out now, just keep an eye on her. Sometimes after they lay sofies they's llook kind of depressed.

I've read that shell-less eggs are more difficult to pass, so maybe that was the issue?

They are super hard to pass.

By the way, this is the second time when the good advice of the BYC folks saved my rear...uh...duck. Thanks! I'm so grateful to have this website. I'd be lost otherwise!!!!

Give yourself a huge pat on the back for identifying that something was off!