Swollen or fat looking belly on Muscovy, should I be concerned?

[Pugerpillar]

My Muscovy hen, Biscuit, seems to have swelling around her vent and in her gut. This is in correlation with the mating season. The drakes (who are not muscovies and are a lot faster than her) have been awful to her and it’s gotten to the point where I’m questioning making a roast duck dinner. I’m wondering if this has something to do with it, maybe it‘s irritation from constant mating, an infection, egg bound, or maybe it’s just fat, but none of the other female muscovies have this and I have yet to see anything about muscovies having fat tummies except for one thread where the duck was found to have an infection. Am I right to be concerned?

 

[fatty and friends]

can you post pics?

 

[Pugerpillar]

can you post pics?

 

[fatty and friends]

View attachment 2618323View attachment 2618328View attachment 2618332

girls get that while they are laying eggs, normal and nothing to worry about (just make sure she has good quality feed and calcium sources)

 

[Pugerpillar]

girls get that while they are laying eggs, normal and nothing to worry about (just make sure she has good quality feed and calcium sources)

Ok, that's good, I've never seen it this pronounced in a duck.

 

[writerskramp]

My Muscovy hen, Biscuit, seems to have swelling around her vent and in her gut. This is in correlation with the mating season. The drakes (who are not muscovies and are a lot faster than her) have been awful to her and it’s gotten to the point where I’m questioning making a roast duck dinner. I’m wondering if this has something to do with it, maybe it‘s irritation from constant mating, an infection, egg bound, or maybe it’s just fat, but none of the other female muscovies have this and I have yet to see anything about muscovies having fat tummies except for one thread where the duck was found to have an infection. Am I right to be concerned?

Had one recently, bottom half all bloated front to rear and not feeding nor joining in the daily fracas.. Sour crop no.. Know that one.. and how to treat with tablespoon of baking soda per gallon in waterer one time.. Water Belly or Ascites..? Did the research, draining and such, improvement but no cure. Just said, ca sara sara. Expected to have to euthanize.. I'll add this question. 'How do 'you' euthanize'? She is doing fine now, eating and running about with the pack.. full of energy. Still a little bloating, acts like she's been starving, but will see. Seen some squirts in the run, so the blockage is moving. Did the same with Limpy.. Bumblefoot, stepped on her me thinks.. She is fine now.. and still thinks I should wait on her hand and foot. No pun intended. Things have a way of working themselves out, but sometimes not.. So far so good. What did Nature do before we were here to muck it up?

 

[KaleIAm]

I only have mallard derived ducks, not muscovies, but some amount of abdominal inflammation is normal and expected in reproductively active duck hens. I don't know exactly what this looks like in a muscovy. The level of inflammation can vary from duck to duck, and in some ducks it can be very pronounced and still not be a health issue.

Having said that there are medical conditions that have symptoms of a swollen belly. My birds have had some of these conditions, and they had other symptoms as well. You might want to watch out for diarrhea, a change in appetite, or any lethargy. If that happens I would take her to a veterinarian.

If she is being mated excessively I would address that situation even if it isn't causing her a serious medical condition at the moment. One of my ducks was permanently injured by a drake.

 

[Chicken poppy]

It could be a sickness or condition, but otherwise id say its fine, and just the egg laying part of it, seems perfectly fine. But keep a eye on her