URGENT~ SOFT SHELLED EGGS AND A LETHARGIC DUCK!!!

[PetDuck]

Guys, I am so terrified!!!

Last week Quackers stopped laying eggs (about a week after the first soft egg so I started feeding her a lot of oyster shells for calcium). She had been laying for almost a year so I figured she was just off-season. I can't really explain it but lately she has been acting kind of different, like shes not her usual self. Even though she stopped laying eggs, she has still been making nests in the flower bed like she does when shes laying. This morning about minutes ago I went to let her out. She is usually pacing at the sides of her cage and happy talking when she sees me in the morning. This morning she was sleeping standing up (that is perfectly fine considering that she always does that) and when she woke up she kept standing there in that same spot not making a noise. I opened the cage to pick her up and she still didn't move and just let me pick her up without a fuss and I sat her down on the ground outside her cage and she very slowly walked over to her pool and just stood there without moving.

I looked in her cage and there was something that looked like paper and my first thought is that she ate a piece of paper out of the yard and then threw it up. but when I looked closer I could see that it a softie egg shell. One piece is folded up but the other piece has a small ball of what looks to be yolk attached to the end of it. I thought that maybe she had laid a softie and just stepped on it and broken it. But it is all twisted. I called my dad and he found another softie in her cage (intact but very very thin).

So basically overall: She stopped laying eggs, started acting different, kept making nest constantly even though she wasn't laying, has been eating plenty of oyster shells, laid a softie, has a popped egg in her cage, and is acting slightly lethargic. She ate some food this morning and I put her in her pool but instead of swimming, she just sat there.

Is it possible that an egg popped in her stomach? The way that the egg was twisted makes it looked that she didn't just pop by stepping on it to me.


Here are some pictures:









Please guys!!! I am so scared for my baby girl!!! She is sleeping instead of foraging in the morning like she does when I let her out!!! I am shaking I'm so scared. I know it might be nothing but I need your help to calm me down!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

No, you are right to have concerns, that could be serious. What I'd do: Warm Bath, float, allow her to relax and kick her legs, make sure you are providing a good quality layer feed, oyster shell, and do consider adding the liquid Calcium Gluconate to the water. I had a duck doing that, that's what I was advised to do and it never went systemic and it went away. Look for Amiga's posts, she has written many on the topic and IMO she explains things very very well, much better than I can. I know you are worried, and I really don't want to alarm you further, but you will likely need to play nurse for awhile in order to see exactly what's going on and if those treatments I suggested above help. I do not recall Quacker's age, sorry, but another thing to keep in mind while you deal with this is that these strange eggs seem to show up most often in younger and older ducks. I'm sorry she is sick. Hang in there.

 

[PetDuck]

Thanks,
Where do I get calcium gluconate and how do I give it to her? She is about a year and a half old and has been laying since i think February last year without pause. She is still acting lethargic and sleepy...
Where are all of my other super smart friends like Amiga!!!? Did an egg pop in her stomach? What would happen if it did? She has been drinking a lot lately.

She has a rat or a field mouse that has been digging under the side of her cage and eating her food. I am kind of worried about the rat getting saliva on Quakers food or biting her and transmitting some sort of disease. Is the rat okay or should I board up the cage so it can't get in? It started digging in about a week ago.

Thanks guys,
Quackers and her worried sick mommy

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks,
Where do I get calcium gluconate and how do I give it to her? She is about a year and a half old and has been laying since i think February last year without pause. She is still acting lethargic and sleepy...
Where are all of my other super smart friends like Amiga!!!? Did an egg pop in her stomach? What would happen if it did? She has been drinking a lot lately.

She has a rat or a field mouse that has been digging under the side of her cage and eating her food. I am kind of worried about the rat getting saliva on Quakers food or biting her and transmitting some sort of disease. Is the rat okay or should I board up the cage so it can't get in? It started digging in about a week ago.

Thanks guys,
Quackers and her worried sick mommy

Keep the rat out they do carry disease and if they poop on the feed and she eats it could make her sick. Or take her food up at night if that's when it's getting in. I think you have to go to a pharmacy for the calcium gluconate ask for it. How does her vent look any discharge? when my hen laid a soft shell she still had some hanging out and I gently pulled it out and there was some discharge. whiteish in color .Egg peritonitis
and is very serious if you suspect this may be what's going on she will either need to see a vet and most likely have to go on some kind of antibiotic. There no way we can tell you if this is what is going on but Something is making her feel bad and with these eggs it looks suspicious. Amiga is out of town at the moment maybe she'll be able to check in later, send her a PM that way she'll be sure to see your post, she has had 2 ducks that had peritonitis.
.

 

[PetDuck]

I researched EYP and found out that Quackers has pretty much all of the symptoms. I am pretty sure that is what she has.
Are there any types of over-the-counter antibiotics that I could give her to kill the infection? Or would I HAVE to go to the vet to get the right kind? I am getting the calcium G for her tomorrow from somewhere.

My dad says we will do what we have to to make her better, even if it means the vet. So if it is the only thing that will help, say the word and we're off.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I researched EYP and found out that Quackers has pretty much all of the symptoms. I am pretty sure that is what she has.
Are there any types of over-the-counter antibiotics that I could give her to kill the infection? Or would I HAVE to go to the vet to get the right kind? I am getting the calcium G for her tomorrow from somewhere.

My dad says we will do what we have to to make her better, even if it means the vet. So if it is the only thing that will help, say the word and we're off.

I believe Amiga would say vet if you can get her to one, it is serious and needs attention quickly. Not even sure what antibiotic you could buy over the counter most require a prescription, but most feed stores carry some antibiotics for animals still I think you better look it up to see, but still think a vet would be your best course of action. I'm so sorry I hope you can get her help fast. and please keep us updated.

 

[PetDuck]

What do you think the vet would do? Just give her antibiotics?

 

[veronicasmom]

If you can call an avian vet, I think that is the wisest route to take. The vet may or may not do the antibiotic thing, and certain ones are better than others. So it is best to see a professional.
I had a duck with peritonitis and time is of the essence dealing with it. Hope you can get some help for your poor duck. Good luck

 

[PetDuck]

I live in Cleveland MS and I have no idea where any avian vets are around here. There is one about 2 and a half hours away from here that I call when Quackers had bumble foot and they said they had a doctor that did waterfowl (ducks) but I don't know if he is going to be in on Monday. I guess I will call them tomorrow and ask. If he is then I will take her up there.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I agree with all of the above. I personally found the liquid Calcium Gluc in a bottle in the Cattle Section of my Farm Store. It was very reasonably priced (= inexpensive) and I'm thinking the dosage was 1/2 teaspoon to one gal water. Amiga I know listed out her dosage, but I just cannot find find that. But start there, see if it helps. I know Amiga would tell you that a Vet would be best, and that is true. Keep us posted.