Unknown duck behavior

[NukiTruk]

I think she is Molting. Canadian has a point, checking for egg bind is a good idea and giving some calcium. Not much on the calcium though, the molting is a resting period they need. I mean if you were passing babies nearly every day for 9 months wouldn't you need a break? Ha Ha! When you start back up after the rest I would take oystershell and grind it up into a powder and just add it to their feed. Not much maybe a tablespoon per bowl. As far as grinding the shell I like using the stone polishing drums with steel ball bearings. works well and makes it easier to add a powder form for the ducks.

Thanks for your input.
Yeah that seems logic she needs a break hehe.

Are panting and not laying, symptoms of molting with ducks? I can't find much information on that.

Thank you for the info on the oyster shells. We will be getting that as soon as possible. We need it also for one of the younger hens as she sometimes lay eggs with soft shell. Definitely a must.

Nuki

 

[Aunt Angus]

Not laying is definitely a sign of molting with ducks. Panting - I don't honestly know. It's been so dang hot, my ducks are almost always panting. And they're molting, so I don't know what is the main cause of the panting.

I had to switch to layer feed for now. I have my ducks with my chickens (including roosters), so I fed all flock for the past year or so. But my ducks seem to require more calcium. They eat oyster, but the weird eggs didn't stop until I got Marmalade on hormone implants and the rest of the girls on layer. The excess calcium is bad for my roosters, but it's just until I can separate the ducks. Then I'll put the chickens back on all flock and the ducks on laying duck-specific feed.

 

[NukiTruk]

The wife just returned from the vet and explained the symptoms, she didn't take Kali the hen with her as she was on the way back home from work.
The vet said it is probably a respiratory infection common with chickens and ducks and told to separate her and gave liquid antibiotics as a treatment.

So we'll probably going to try his advice and see if it gets better.


Any ideas on how to give her the oral antibiotic? I was thinking of putting it on a snail or foodsource and give it her like that so I'm sure she got everything.

Nuki

 

[Canadian Wind]

The wife just returned from the vet and explained the symptoms, she didn't take Kali the hen with her as she was on the way back home from work.
The vet said it is probably a respiratory infection common with chickens and ducks and told to separate her and gave liquid antibiotics as a treatment.

So we'll probably going to try his advice and see if it gets better.


Any ideas on how to give her the oral antibiotic? I was thinking of putting it on a snail or foodsource and give it her like that so I'm sure she got everything.

Nuki

Peas. The go crazy for them! Alternatively, if she's being isolated, then maybe just on her food?

 

[NukiTruk]

Hi,

Update for those interested and hope it can help with others who might have the same issue.

After the vet's advice, we isolated her and started to give her antibiotics in liquid form. During the night we keep her in a plastic container where we held our ducklings the first 2 weeks. She sleeps inside the house.

I had time to observe her closely:
The first night might have been the worst, her breathing was heavy with open beak. Sounds also like she has mucus or liquid inside her throat, noticeable when she takes breaths. At times she would cough like she is trying to get rid of the mucus.
There is however no discharge from her nostrils. She would also make this eating/drinking motion like she was removing the liquid that came up?

She also doesn't want to lay down and is keeping her head and neck high. I believe it might be the most comfortable position for her to let in the air? When she would turn her neck or shake her body she would cough after that.

Last night it was the same but got slightly better around 3 am. She also didn't sleep and if she did it was very little. (I check up on her very frequently).

Apart from the antibiotics we didn't do much, I used saline solution in her nostrils hoping it would help her a bit. I didn't notice any discomfort from her side so believe it didn't to her damage?
I also hand fed her just to make it as easy as possible for her.

What I notice is that she got more violent last night. When I would approach my hand she would pick at it. This might be because of the news we got this morning? Or just wanted to be left alone.

So this morning as a surprise she laid an egg! Very unexpected I would say.
This however rules out she was egg bound right?

Breathing has been a bit calmer for now but still has the occasional cough.
We took her outside, she was searching for food, took a dive in the pool and dried herself like nothing is happening.
It looks like she is getting better so I'm hoping for the best.

I believe now her behavior is that she has a bacterial or viral respiratory infection and not from the possible egg bound or molting.

I hope she is out of the woods now. Going to continue a few days with the antibiotics and keep her separated.


Thanks for all your input!

Nuki

 

[NukiTruk]

I think she is Molting. Canadian has a point, checking for egg bind is a good idea and giving some calcium. Not much on the calcium though, the molting is a resting period they need. I mean if you were passing babies nearly every day for 9 months wouldn't you need a break? Ha Ha! When you start back up after the rest I would take oystershell and grind it up into a powder and just add it to their feed. Not much maybe a tablespoon per bowl. As far as grinding the shell I like using the stone polishing drums with steel ball bearings. works well and makes it easier to add a powder form for the ducks.

The bag arrived. It's a mix a oystershell, clamshells, stones, calcium, magnesium and what not.
Let's see how it goes!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Well, not being eggbound is good and it narrows down the possibilities. Poor girl sounds like she's having a rough go of it. If it's a respiratory illness, the antibiotics will do the trick, I hope, unless it's viral. If it's viral, lots of TLC will hopefully see her through it. Glad she's eating and drinking. You might give vitamins, too, if you aren't already. Just a thought.

IMO, feistiness is a good thing. Means her energy level is at least high enough to fight back - lol! I would worry more if she were lethargic.

Keep us posted! We are all rooting for the two of you!

 

[Aksarben Farms]

Hi,

Update for those interested and hope it can help with others who might have the same issue.

After the vet's advice, we isolated her and started to give her antibiotics in liquid form. During the night we keep her in a plastic container where we held our ducklings the first 2 weeks. She sleeps inside the house.

I had time to observe her closely:
The first night might have been the worst, her breathing was heavy with open beak. Sounds also like she has mucus or liquid inside her throat, noticeable when she takes breaths. At times she would cough like she is trying to get rid of the mucus.
There is however no discharge from her nostrils. She would also make this eating/drinking motion like she was removing the liquid that came up?

She also doesn't want to lay down and is keeping her head and neck high. I believe it might be the most comfortable position for her to let in the air? When she would turn her neck or shake her body she would cough after that.

Last night it was the same but got slightly better around 3 am. She also didn't sleep and if she did it was very little. (I check up on her very frequently).

Apart from the antibiotics we didn't do much, I used saline solution in her nostrils hoping it would help her a bit. I didn't notice any discomfort from her side so believe it didn't to her damage?
I also hand fed her just to make it as easy as possible for her.

What I notice is that she got more violent last night. When I would approach my hand she would pick at it. This might be because of the news we got this morning? Or just wanted to be left alone.

So this morning as a surprise she laid an egg! Very unexpected I would say.
This however rules out she was egg bound right?

Breathing has been a bit calmer for now but still has the occasional cough.
We took her outside, she was searching for food, took a dive in the pool and dried herself like nothing is happening.
It looks like she is getting better so I'm hoping for the best.

I believe now her behavior is that she has a bacterial or viral respiratory infection and not from the possible egg bound or molting.

I hope she is out of the woods now. Going to continue a few days with the antibiotics and keep her separated.


Thanks for all your input!

Nuki

Hey, Hubby showed this to the wife and when wife saw video hubby got smacked and she said that's respiratory infection stupid! Hubby is the stupid not you. She is glad you got the little girl antibiotics and she is doing better.

 

[NukiTruk]

Hey, Hubby showed this to the wife and when wife saw video hubby got smacked and she said that's respiratory infection stupid! Hubby is the stupid not you. She is glad you got the little girl antibiotics and she is doing better.

Hey, No problem

Another update.

She has been sleeping! Good sign, finally some rest for her, she deserves it
We put her back with her buddies and seems happy again. Breathing is better and almost back to normal I believe. She now sounds like the first stage when she started the 'purring like' breathing.

It's been an interesting experience and learned some new things about duck behavior and illness.

I will share some videos from this morning so you can see how she's doing

Thanks again everyone for their time, input and support. Much appreciated!!

Nuki