Support Group for Abused Duck Keepers

[Luv Ducks]

This boy is my world
I love both of them but river is my best friend
He won’t even let me leave without coming to say goidbye

Oh How Precious He Is!!!!

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Hang on to that Hen that hatched out these babies being all females. She has the ability to throw off females which is great. My Mallard Hen only had males for the most part. Out of 35 ducklings, all were drakes except for 2! I just got three Black East Indies ducklings and the lady told me that so far the ones she had sold out of her Hen were all Hens. I too got all girls. She is lucky that hers was not like my Mallard. Funny how the females determine the sex of the ducklings and in our world the male does.

Miss Diamond is a lifetime pet here ) she is one of my favourites silver Swedish
She can also go broody anytime she wants
Between the 2 broody moms
Midnight had 5 babies ( 3 girls 2 boys ) then Diamond with 6 for 6 girls
I did really well with those 2 girls
The one male is headed to my friends place and the other male is staying
He now has 6 new ladies
He looks like his grandpa my khaki Campbell but has some white on his wings

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

Oh How Precious He Is!!!!

Gentle giant
My grandson bonded to him when he was little and when he comes to visit he runs straight to River
River has never forgot him
They cuddle and run and play

 

[Luv Ducks]

Gentle giant
My grandson bonded to him when he was little and when he comes to visit he runs straight to River
River has never forgot him
They cuddle and run and play

Soooo Cute!!!

 

[BelovedBirds]

I'm annoyed today, I walked by a duck pond at a local golf course yesterday, and saw an abandoned duck... too dark to take a photo and there's really nothing at all I can do, it's all fenced off and too large to try and catch them, they're far too skittish. I would need kayaks and nets, etc etc, which would be forbidden. But I'm so cross that people do this.

My first thought was black swedish drake but I think it may have been a hen as no visible drake curl, hard to see in such poor lighting. Seemingly a black body, greenish tint on the head, white bib and a bit of white scattered around the neck. Perhaps a mixed breed? Larger than the mallards.

At least this place has signs on feeding the ducks proper duck food, has duck food available in a nearby cafe, and the pond is fenced off to prevent dogs and foxes getting in. (A new thing due to past issues).

 

[BelovedBirds]

Can I get opinions to hopefully put my mind at ease, about Dougie?
Her tummy has always been pretty low to the ground, not too uncommon for laying hens, but I thought today it felt a little soft. Slightly squishy. Not hard or fluidy, but soft and fatty I suppose? Quite a rounded tummy also. She is turning 3 this month, and has had a low hanging belly develop from 1yr. It may be a bit bigger than it was then but this isnt a sudden change. And her behaviour is normal, mischievous, energetic and ferocious appetite. Seems to be zero discomfort when her tummy is touched.
I'm just not too sure what her abdomen should feel like and I always worry about my girls. Sprightly has a smaller abdomen, a bit flatter, and feels more firm, less fatty/squishy.

I've heard that matured hens sometimes develop a bit of an "egg belly" or "pouch". And I also consider that she is part aylesbury... Now, ayslebury are generally a meat breed and have very large and saggy bodies, with low hanging bellies.
So I'm telling myself I'm over thinking it, that it's a combination of being an excessive layer and being part aylesbury.

But what do you all think? Would you be concerned? Should her tummy feel more firm, is ascites a concern do you think?
Dougie today, please excuse the messy ground I had just been raking up bedding and muck, this was mid clean.

And a photo of some pure bred ayelsburies for reference!

Depending on her position it can hang higher or lower to the ground, but not much more than these pics of her and not as much as the ducks in that photo!
.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I think she's part goose, is all.

Seriously though, it seems to be her regular look. I wouldn't worry overmuch about it although I know you will anyhow!

 

[Canadian Wind]

We had a big dump of snow yesterday and overnight, so I shovelled out the pens and lay down some straw so they wouldn't get chilled feet.

How did the ducks show their appreciation? By vigorously flapping their wings and making all the straw fly all over the place!!!

 

[BelovedBirds]

I think she's part goose, is all.

You know, now you mention it

We had a big dump of snow yesterday and overnight, so I shovelled out the pens and lay down some straw so they wouldn't get chilled feet.

How did the ducks show their appreciation? By vigorously flapping their wings and making all the straw fly all over the place!!!

Sounds about right.... bet its freezing there

We had a little snow here a little bit ago, it was lovely as we haven't had any in ages- but very short lived. I took the girls out for a brief waddle in it and it was landing on us lol.

 

[Goosebaby]

Can I get opinions to hopefully put my mind at ease, about Dougie?
Her tummy has always been pretty low to the ground, not too uncommon for laying hens, but I thought today it felt a little soft. Slightly squishy. Not hard or fluidy, but soft and fatty I suppose? Quite a rounded tummy also. She is turning 3 this month, and has had a low hanging belly develop from 1yr. It may be a bit bigger than it was then but this isnt a sudden change. And her behaviour is normal, mischievous, energetic and ferocious appetite. Seems to be zero discomfort when her tummy is touched.
I'm just not too sure what her abdomen should feel like and I always worry about my girls. Sprightly has a smaller abdomen, a bit flatter, and feels more firm, less fatty/squishy.

I've heard that matured hens sometimes develop a bit of an "egg belly" or "pouch". And I also consider that she is part aylesbury... Now, ayslebury are generally a meat breed and have very large and saggy bodies, with low hanging bellies.
So I'm telling myself I'm over thinking it, that it's a combination of being an excessive layer and being part aylesbury.

But what do you all think? Would you be concerned? Should her tummy feel more firm, is ascites a concern do you think?
Dougie today, please excuse the messy ground I had just been raking up bedding and muck, this was mid clean.
View attachment 4001381View attachment 4001382
And a photo of some pure bred ayelsburies for reference!
View attachment 4001384
Depending on her position it can hang higher or lower to the ground, but not much more than these pics of her and not as much as the ducks in that photo!
.

Has she been laying? Is she eating well?
I’ve only experienced ascites twice and it’s been with geese, Thor’s was due to heart failure and his symptoms “lethargy, appetite loss, open mouth breathing, exercise intolerance” appeared before he he started getting ascites. As for Parsnip, his is due to some “unknown issue with his pancreas” and he was fairly ill and not eating well before he began accumulating fluid. Since he’s weirdly been fine despite carrying around a beach ball of fluid and the only thing that makes him ill now is when I drain the fluid and then he swells up more than he was before.


What that looks like Dougie has is similar to Truffle’s pouch, mind you he’s a drake though, and with him it’s fat. Truffle is my Pesto, he’s larger than both his parents and has extra chub.



And this is my Moo Deng…