What in Ducky Heck is this!?

[DuckyDoodles]

I got sucked in so hard when I found this thread yesterday, just finished reading it all and wow just wow. I'm so glad OG has such a great careing mum, and so sorry you've had so much craziness with your duckies. They all look adorable! (Ofcorse I had to read about goop goop too .) I hope they are all doing well, keep up the great work!

Thank you! Truly it gives me a sense of ease when BYC members say I’m doing good. I know BYC isn’t like the veterinary Gods of all things poultry but truthfully I would trust the BYC advice probably about as much as a vet. With BYC you are surrounded by people with like minds and the desire to do well. Even if that means they’re doing well because they want to ensure the most meat is reaped come cull time (no judgment). And back when I began my surprise ownership of ducks, I was a full time BYC lurker. So for me to have anyone from BYC say I’m doing good... well I’m easy to please.

Thank you

And yes, I’m *still* hoping Goop Goop continues to get better.

 

[onaharley]

Thank you! Truly it gives me a sense of ease when BYC members say I’m doing good. I know BYC isn’t like the veterinary Gods of all things poultry but truthfully I would trust the BYC advice probably about as much as a vet. With BYC you are surrounded by people with like minds and the desire to do well. Even if that means they’re doing well because they want to ensure the most meat is reaped come cull time (no judgment). And back when I began my surprise ownership of ducks, I was a full time BYC lurker. So for me to have anyone from BYC say I’m doing good... well I’m easy to please.

Thank you

And yes, I’m *still* hoping Goop Goop continues to get better.

Right on!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How are your littles doing today, and the lil one with the crusted eye?

 

[DuckyDoodles]

How are your littles doing today, and the lil one with the crusted eye?

Awww thank you for checking in on them! I was getting ready to bring updates to you guys because I need some reassurance.

So the littlest two (the Cayugas who arrived on Wednesday) seem to be doing okay in that there’s no symptoms of something wrong. The littler one (little goop eye) hasn’t had any more eye discharge but she’s not 100% where her Cayuga sibling is either. She’s much much smaller and doesn’t appear at all to be the same developmental stage as the other. She also doesn’t seem as clean (or preening as much) because she always has dried food on her head/face somewhere. The bigger one often boinks at her to get the foods and stuff but it makes me wonder why she has it and the bigger one doesn’t?

I’m still doing electrolytes/NutriDrench in their water/food. Still have a heater lamp. But definitely different progress rates. I’m so worried something is wrong with her but yet there isn’t anything I’ve found/or can articulate, that would mean something is up. Just worried for her little self I guess.

Attached pic of Cayugas has itty bitty on top.

As for the Swedes? They’re rotten lol they’re huge! I upgraded their arrangements to a kiddie pool on Thursday (reinforced for keeping them in it) and already they’re pushing what I feel is max capacity on that! So I’m running around in circles trying to figure out what I’m going to put them in next since they’re not feathered enough to go on to the back porch yet. As it is, my next step is to put them in that setup I have for OG but bring it inside and have it covering plastic and bedding (my carpets thank them).

Picture of Swedes attached.

OG’s (hopefully last) follow up appt is tomorrow morning and I’m hoping she can have the all clear to resume normal duck duties.

I built their coop Friday (god my body is broken) and all that remains is the door and roof. I’m so excited. I will post pics of it once fully completed.

ETA: Behavior difference that I’m not certain matters or not but I gave the Cayugas a tiny sink bath today. Hubs watched his babies while I cleaned their brooder and he noticed that Little Goop didn’t splash/play/swim like the bigger one. She just sorta paddled around and didn’t really get all “I’m a duck let me clean myself” with the water.

Don’t know if that matters but I’m certain it plays into why the other one has to eat the leftover foods off her face— she just doesn’t seem to care I guess?

 

[DuckyDoodles]

I wanted to add that what I’m concerned most about her size is that she’s going to be a failure to thrive or something. I don’t wish it on her at all, oh god no, but I wish I could just have a little tiny duckling certificate that says “I’m just small, don’t fret.” So then I’m not hovering over her all the time.

I just love them all to pieces, really I do, but the Swedes have me ready to ship them outside with all of this poop!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How's the weather up there? lol

Oh gosh I hope she doesn't have failure to thrive either time will tell, I can see a difference in the 2 even from here. Your doing all you can that's for sure. Did you ever get to talk to Metzers so they know what's going on? Not trying to push that on you but if you did lose her God forbid they would want to know I am thinking. Poor lil ones hatch get sexed and tossed into boxes for shipping they haven't a clue if they are healthy or not it's just a business.
Gosh they are all gorgeous and look very healthy. Prayers for your lil goopy.

 

[DuckyDoodles]

How's the weather up there? lol

Oh gosh I hope she doesn't have failure to thrive either time will tell, I can see a difference in the 2 even from here. Your doing all you can that's for sure. Did you ever get to talk to Metzers so they know what's going on? Not trying to push that on you but if you did lose her God forbid they would want to know I am thinking. Poor lil ones hatch get sexed and tossed into boxes for shipping they haven't a clue if they are healthy or not it's just a business.
Gosh they are all gorgeous and look very healthy. Prayers for your lil goopy.

The weather up here sux! It was 77 and beautiful on Friday (hence me building my coop!) and today it’s effing snowing!? I hate Indiana ((ugh))

So I’m sitting here at the vet while they took OG to the back to look her wound over. Wanted to pop in and update on two things:

Yes, I got in touch with Metzer on phone Thursday afternoon and talked (by accidental path crossings) two separate people. Said they have no idea why her eye would be crusty other than some sort of eye irritation occurred in transit. They reiterated that their 48 hours started from delivery so that they’d replace or refund of something happened before end of business on Friday.

‘Twas a super business-like response, but I can’t say that I’m mad about it... it just doesn’t help me feel any better when I’m looking at this little itty bitty baby who’s clearly not doing so well.

Hubs says that last night when he was holding the Cayugas for his/their nightly snuggles (we do sessions with all of the newbies typically each night) that he said it seemed that itty bitty was having a hard time breathing and was opening/closing her beak quite a bit. He thought it might’ve been where the baby was struggling to breathe and was opening its beak. I told him I wasn’t certain but that I remembered something with the crop being an issue?

I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling about her and I wish I didn’t because I believe in energy being a real thing. If I’m putting negative energy on to her maybe it’ll come to pass but I also don’t want to NOT prepare myself for such a sad inevitability.

Attached a pic of OG giving hubs “the look” b cause she had to sit backseat because he was in her spot LOL

Attached 3 more pics for showing difference AND to show how she just always has food on her face But!! You can zoom in and see her eyes are as clear as can be

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable doesn't look like she is taking advantage of dunking her head after eating.Or her sis is throwing feed on her.
Just keep on with the TLC and vits and hopefully she'll just pull out of it.

That is so cute OG giving dh the stink eye. lol

 

[DuckyDoodles]

They are adorable doesn't look like she is taking advantage of dunking her head after eating.Or her sis is throwing feed on her.
Just keep on with the TLC and vits and hopefully she'll just pull out of it.

That is so cute OG giving dh the stink eye. lol

Yeah I’ve never seen her dip her head for anything. I see her drinking after eating, and notably welllllll after eating, but never to clean or preen or blow her nose. But, admittedly, I’m not watching her the whole time. But I think with her food on her face (which I can 100% vouch is her own doings) she’s not doing too much that I’m not seeing.

Yeah poor OG is not pleased with him. We’re on our way back where I will post better update then.

 

[Blue Crow]

To get mine to clean their faces after the evening mash (the game bird starter I had them on a first was dusty so mash was my way of using all the food) I put peas in clear water and let them go bobbing for peas, it gives me entertainment and gets everyone's face clean.


... I think the ducks may have me trained.