What is wrong with my duck?

[Hball]

My duck has been breathing like this for a week now and it seems to get worse then it’ll be better but I’m worried now she isn’t going to make it. Could it be aspergillus exposure? I have 1 other duck and 5 chickens that are all perfectly fine. What can I do to help her?

 

[Hball]

My duck has been breathing like this for a week now and it seems to get worse then it’ll be better but I’m worried now she isn’t going to make it. Could it be aspergillus exposure? I have 1 other duck and 5 chickens that are all perfectly fine. What can I do to help her?

@Canadian Wind @cheezenkwackers @Jenbirdee @ruthhope Feel free to tag anyone. I’ve tried tagging Miss Lydia and it will not let me. She always has such great advice! You guys have helped me in the past so I wanted to tag you guys

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Sorry, I have not heard that sound in my ducks .

 

[ruthhope]

@Canadian Wind @cheezenkwackers @Jenbirdee @ruthhope Feel free to tag anyone. I’ve tried tagging Miss Lydia and it will not let me. She always has such great advice! You guys have helped me in the past so I wanted to tag you guys

One of my muscovy drakes started mouth gaping breathing about 18 months ago. He was also sulky -- avoiding interacting with me and the other ducks. He normally comes as soon as he hears me and wants nothing more than for me to sit down and cuddle him. Not when he was mouth breathing.

I, too, wondered whether it might be aspergillosis, and I did send for stuff to fumigate the coop. Although I live in hot, humid Florida, my coop is spacious and airy, and had no obvious mold growing there. Plus, the other duck were all well. My boy was not deteriorating -- veterinary care was not available -- and I decided to hold off on changing anything in the coop. The drake slowly over weeks -- if not months improved and got back to his normal attention seeking self. I gave him Rooster Booster Poultry Cell in his water and offered him extra protein treats [peas and mealworms] which he picked at but without gusto. I was desperate enough to try and give him my own albuterol through a nebulizer, but that was unsuccessful in that he would not cooperate [wise boy]. I was treating my anxiety not my drake!!

Aspergillosis occurs in damp, dirty conditions when wet bedding is not replaced frequently enough, and also if hay is used rather than straw. It usually affects ducklings not juvenile or adult ducks. If the environment is conducive to aspergillosis, the other ducks are at risk too. I came to the conclusion in retrospect that my drake did not have aspergillosis. He may have inhaled bedding or dust from around the garden, but he was a big healthy boy and his own body healed itself with some supportive measures from me.

I suggest you consult a vet if that is possible; clean out the duck house and ensure all bedding is clean and dry, and offer extra supportive measures to the duck such as Rooster Booster and protein treats.

Let us know about progress with him