Very sick duck. Help and opinions please.

[pamelajean]

I have a 1.5 YO duck (barnyard mix, mallard derived breed) who has been showing symptoms since Saturday. Symptoms include the following:

• loss of appetite
• no energy
• unable to walk. When she does she splays her wings and stands very upright.
• Watery greenish poop
• Tail seems tucked under/being held to the side

I've been giving her warm baths daily and she quite happily eats some lettuce during her bath but isn't interested in her favorite treat, dried meal worms. She is drinking a fair bit. She seems bright eyed and has some fight in her still so I hate to give up on her. (She is hissing and even ran a few feet attacking when my curious lab got too close). Its been 5 days and I honestly thought she wouldn't still be with us but she is not giving up. I just got some vitamins so I will give her that with her water later. Not sure what else I can be doing. Is this a lost cause? I feel like she is just slowly starving to death.

 

[casportpony]

So sorry your duck is sick. Is there any chance you can get her to a vet? If not, we can help you try to figure about what's wrong, but that could be hard to do.

If you have time, please read this:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1...rgency-and-supportive-care-updated-10-30-2016

 

[Kkrista123]

Have you tried feeding her a large variety of everything duck safe and seeing if she'll eat any of it? Sometime's my duck will eat whatever looks most appetizing if I trick her with too many options.

 

[pamelajean]

So sorry your duck is sick. Is there any chance you can get her to a vet? If not, we can help you try to figure about what's wrong, but that could be hard to do.

If you have time, please read this:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1...rgency-and-supportive-care-updated-10-30-2016

Great reference. Thanks. Actually, I did just today find a vet willing to take a peek this afternoon (though she said she wasn't optimistic after hearing the symptoms) but my husband has told me no, you are not taking your duck to a vet. So I'm not sure I want to have that fight....

 

[casportpony]

Great reference. Thanks. Actually, I did just today find a vet willing to take a peek this afternoon (though she said she wasn't optimistic after hearing the symptoms) but my husband has told me no, you are not taking your duck to a vet. So I'm not sure I want to have that fight....

It really would be best, but vets are expensive. You're also in Canada where antibiotics, supplies, and supplements are harder to get.

Almost all sick birds will benefit fom being in a warm cage or warm room, and most will benefit from fluids too. A vet could give her subcutaneous fluids and could show you how to tube feed.

If she were mine I would bring her in, weigh her, and give her a thorough exam, including checking for a stuck egg.

Once nice and warm from being inside I would tube fluids, which I can teach you if you want to learn. Then once her hydration status aw corrected I might give some calcium and b vitamins.

There are diseases and bacteria that can cause green, watery poop, so I would give some antibiotics, and I might de-worm and treat for coccidiosis too.

Green poop can also be caused by them not eating, so once warm and hydrated, I would tube Kaytee Exact baby bird food.

You should be able to buy tubing supplies, but getting medications will be harder to get, and probably more expensive than a trip to the vet.

Whatever you decide, just let us know and we'll do what we can to help you.

 

[pamelajean]

@casportpony thank you!!

 

[casportpony]

@casportpony thank you!!

You're welcome.

 

[chickens really]

I have a 1.5 YO duck (barnyard mix, mallard derived breed) who has been showing symptoms since Saturday. Symptoms include the following:

• loss of appetite
• no energy
• unable to walk. When she does she splays her wings and stands very upright.
• Watery greenish poop
• Tail seems tucked under/being held to the side

I've been giving her warm baths daily and she quite happily eats some lettuce during her bath but isn't interested in her favorite treat, dried meal worms. She is drinking a fair bit. She seems bright eyed and has some fight in her still so I hate to give up on her. (She is hissing and even ran a few feet attacking when my curious lab got too close). Its been 5 days and I honestly thought she wouldn't still be with us but she is not giving up. I just got some vitamins so I will give her that with her water later. Not sure what else I can be doing. Is this a lost cause? I feel like she is just slowly starving to death.

Sounds like an internal laying issue. A Vet is needed or she will possibly die from infection.

 

[casportpony]

Why do you think it's internal laying, and what would the treatment be?

 

[pamelajean]

I took the plunge. We are at the vet.