Strange Malady!

[gilbert2]

One of my young ducklings, a Welsh Harlequin, was all messed up yesterday. She was too weak to even hold up her head, and I thought she was dying. So I gently placed her at the edge of the pen, and went to bed.
This morning, she's "up and at 'em" like nothing ever happened! She is eating and drinking, and has me totally stumped.
If anybody has a clue what happened, or even a guess, I am all ears. It is the strangest thing I have ever seen, and I would dearly love to know what the malady was. So, duck lovers, please pipe up with any ideas you have, OK? Thank you. And Thank God she appears to be out of the woods with this thing.

 

[casportpony]

What's that stuff on her belly between her vent and her umbilicus, is it diarrhea?

 

[gilbert2]

What's that stuff on her belly between her vent and her umbilicus, is it diarrhea?

Sorry, I was so skittish about the whole thing, I didn't inspect her as well as perhaps I shoud have.
I think it is debris that she slid into.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry, I was so skittish about the whole thing, I didn't inspect her as well as perhaps I shoud have.
I think it is debris that she slid into.

Can you grab her and look?

 

[gilbert2]

Excuse me, I forgot to mention her VERY heavy and labored breathing.

 

[gilbert2]

OK CA, give me a minute.

 

[gilbert2]

@casportpony: Sorry, I inspected carefully, but everything is gone. No debris at all--just a clean downy rump. I know this doesn't do you any good with your diagnostic work, and all I can say is, sorry.

 

[casportpony]

@casportpony: Sorry, I inspected carefully, but everything is gone. No debris at all--just a clean downy rump. I know this doesn't do you any good with your diagnostic work, and all I can say is, sorry.

No worries, just keep an eye out for odd looking poop.

Excuse me, I forgot to mention her VERY heavy and labored breathing.

Well that's not good sign. Can you move her to a clean towel and post a picture of her next poop?

Also, how warm is her brooder?

 

[gilbert2]

At the moment, she is away from the heat lamp, but it is still a fairly well heated room--70 degrees presently.
Let me see if I can segregate her into a smaller area with towels in the bottom, and I'll get back to you.

 

[gilbert2]

To CAsport: I got some shots. If anything, it looks a bit dry, but I am not sure. Maybe your exam will render more results. So, have a look
BTW, her breathing is normal, her energy level is normal, and she's running around the cage whenever I get close.