Very worried, duck is limping with labored breathing. Need advise asap.

[happy duck]

Do they free range? She could have gotten into something. How often is she limping? Check the bottom of her feet for bumble foot. Looks like she must egg binding. You can put her in a tub of warm Epsom salt water(don't let her drink it!). I would give her some electrolytes and niacin, maybe some probiotic powder. Take her away from flock so she does not spread to the rest of flock, if it is something that can spread. Has she had or seen anything terrible happen like a friend dying or something of the like? Keep us updated. Following.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

This is Kitty again. Yes we can keep her inside and it’s yolk. She’s sitting down right now and her tail feathers are covering it, but I believe there is some of what she pooped out with the rubber egg in the egg picture.

I’m not sure which, so here's a picture of the food she gets, and my dad is going to tractor supply right now for calcium.

She’s started panting just now

That's the exact feed I use, and I think it's good feed. but I still keep oyster shell for them to eat on the side

 

[casportpony]

Do they free range? She could have gotten into something. How often is she limping? Check the bottom of her feet for bumble foot. Looks like she must egg binding. You can put her in a tub of warm Epsom salt water(don't let her drink it!). I would give her some electrolytes and niacin, maybe some probiotic powder. Take her away from flock so she does not spread to the rest of flock, if it is something that can spread. Has she had or seen anything terrible happen like a friend dying or something of the like? Keep us updated. Following.

Did you see the pictures and video of her? Normally I would agree that putting her in a tub of warm water could be helpful, but this duck looks like she's having a hard time holding her head up, so placing her in a tub of water could be dangerous.

 

[happy duck]

I did see the video, I just assumed the duck would be with somebody(assistance) but I should have made that clear. Sorry and thanks for pointing that out.

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Do they free range? She could have gotten into something. How often is she limping? Check the bottom of her feet for bumble foot. Looks like she must egg binding. You can put her in a tub of warm Epsom salt water(don't let her drink it!). I would give her some electrolytes and niacin, maybe some probiotic powder. Take her away from flock so she does not spread to the rest of flock, if it is something that can spread. Has she had or seen anything terrible happen like a friend dying or something of the like? Keep us updated. Following.

Yes, they free range. She’s limping whenever she takes a step no matter how little, though my Mom already checked and nothing was there. She hasn’t seen any deaths for several months (a hawk attack that killed two flock mates and injured another), but it’s possible she might have eaten something. My Dad lets them out in the morning, they go and play in the river all day, maybe visiting the front porch every once in a while, then I go and sit with them about an hour/half an hour till sunset where I feed them and give them fresh water. They could eat anything in that time.
She’s also a lot more awake and has a happy duck tail since she laid that rubber egg and I put the rest of the flock with her. (There are four of them total.) She’s moved around and is looking around (but I’m not bothering her too much because this is when she’s supposed to be sleeping).
It’s a very tight knit flock, so they were all getting LOUDLY anxious and scared being separated, especially the drake. They've all settled down happily in the tub. I'll let them out tomorrow for stretching and supervised time... if she looks up to it, I'd like to let Quackers out, too.

 

[chickens really]

Miss Lydia gave you good advice ...

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

The calcium is key. Have you given medication orally before? If not, I can teach you. The calcium must be given orally or by injection when they are this sick.

I did, after the fire and hawk attack, each time someone ended up needing oral meds, but it was HARD! My dad bought the stuff you suggested and the syringes. Any tips you can give on giving the meds orally would help. She's about 6.4lbs, (I weighed and then held her) so if I added it right, that’s 1.3 ml twice a day? They trust me more than my parents, so it would work better if I can give her the oral meds by syringe myself, but I don‘t want to hurt her.

 

[casportpony]

She’s limping whenever she takes a step no matter how little, though my Mom already checked and nothing was there.

Being low in calcium could cause the limping.

She’s also a lot more awake and has a happy duck tail since she laid that rubber egg and I put the rest of the flock with her.

That's a good sign!

if she looks up to it, I'd like to let Quackers out, too.

Were you able to give her some calcium?

 

[KittyIsQuackers]

Being low in calcium could cause the limping.

That's a good sign!

Were you able to give her some calcium?

I gave her two Tums in her water, but they kept spilling it so I don’t think she got much I put a small bowl full of the layers feed in there and refilled it already.
Can you give me advice on how to give her the oral meds?

 

[casportpony]

I did, after the fire and hawk attack, each time someone ended up needing oral meds, but it was HARD!

I know it can be hard. I can take pictures of me doing it if that would help.

My dad bought the stuff you suggested and the syringes.

Perfect!

Any tips you can give on giving the meds orally would help. She's about 6.4lbs, (I weighed and then held her) so if I added it right, that’s 1.3 ml twice a day?

Your math is spot on!

They trust me more than my parents, so it would work better if I can give her the oral meds by syringe myself, but I don‘t want to hurt her.

I think the key is in figuring out how to keep the still and get their mouth open. Is there anyone that could video you when you do it? If you can do that I can make some suggestions based on your way of handling her.