Straining to poop, hard gizzard?

[Sutekimalik]

Looking for a bit of advice. I have a male pekin duck who is 7 years old. I've noticed recently that whenever he poops, he backs up a couple of steps, as if he's needing force to get it out. He is pooping regularly and everything is clean around his bum so I don't think it's a blockage. I can feel what I think is his gizzard, and it's solid. I cannot feel the same on my other drake, but he's years younger and I am not sure if Clydes is more pronounced because he's older and therefore the muscle more worked or if the two things are linked.

I can't see my vet until next Wednesday.

 

[muscovylove]

Sorry to hear that- is he eating and drinking okay? I have a Muscovy who does the same thing with the backing up.

 

[Sutekimalik]

Sorry to hear that- is he eating and drinking okay? I have a Muscovy who does the same thing with the backing up.

Yes, no change in eating or drinking habits. Devoured a watermelon earlier. It's a relief to see that your muscovy does the same thing, though. Have they always done it or come with age?

 

[muscovylove]

Yes, no change in eating or drinking habits. Devoured a watermelon earlier. It's a relief to see that your muscovy does the same thing, though. Have they always done it or come with age?

I feel like as long as they're eating and drinking they are okay. I'm not sure if they've always done it, but after I replied to you I went out and looked at my ducks (I have....a lot....) and saw 2 of my ducks kind of back up, I wonder if they are just getting into position so to speak. Because I have noticed some of my bigger chickens will do that first thing in the morning, they kind of stand, squat and push back a sec and let out their morning deposit. I would say as long as your duck is eating, drinking, poop looks good, walking okay- they might just have picked up a new habit