White crested shorter lifespan?

[Debby Duck]

I wanted to see if I can hear from others, who have experience with this breed regarding lifespan after they've become adults.

My flock started out as four of them, all drakes. All was well up until about 1 year ago when they were 4 and a half years old, that's when I lost one of them because of the neurological problems that come with the breed. The vet at the time told me that it's usually something seen very early on unless there is trauma. Which I guess would have come when they were going at each other during mating season. Anyway it came on slowly, I'd say a month maybe two of seeing the signs slowly and then realizing something was wrong.

Now a year later, at 5 and 1/2 years, I just lost another one. The vet was not able to point to anything that she could treat. When I first took him in he had a very high potassium level, she treated that with an IV flush and the next day he looked better. Not perfect but enough to come home, and I had him in CPU for a couple of days then let him out with the others. A few days later when I went out to check them at night, he couldn't stand again. That was what took me to the vet with him the first time, losing the ability to stand up. And his neck was very weak it would just lay on the ground as he tried to stand up.
So back to the vet, now the second time. But nothing was out of range with blood or electrolytes. He just declined rapidly, and then no movement at all barely a blink or twitch in his eye. So I had to euthanize him as well.
There were only a few subtle signs leading up to this, to make me wonder if anything was happening with him. I thought that I would recognize anything like what happened with my first duck because of the experience. That one was much slower coming on and progressing. This was almost overnight.

I thought they had several years left in them. Especially since they are protected well from predators or any harmful animals. And of course they eat well so they are (were) happy ducks, until lately, living an idyllic life on the pond during the day, and coming in to shelter at night.

Is it common, that this breed of duck just doesn't live as many years as other ducks? Even when they appear to be well and going strong for several years?

I'm especially confused over losing my last baby. They just couldn't find any reason or explanation for what was happening.

Thank you for reading, I know it got long. Would love to hear others thoughts.

 

[Goosebaby]

I wanted to see if I can hear from others, who have experience with this breed regarding lifespan after they've become adults.

My flock started out as four of them, all drakes. All was well up until about 1 year ago when they were 4 and a half years old, that's when I lost one of them because of the neurological problems that come with the breed. The vet at the time told me that it's usually something seen very early on unless there is trauma. Which I guess would have come when they were going at each other during mating season. Anyway it came on slowly, I'd say a month maybe two of seeing the signs slowly and then realizing something was wrong.

Now a year later, at 5 and 1/2 years, I just lost another one. The vet was not able to point to anything that she could treat. When I first took him in he had a very high potassium level, she treated that with an IV flush and the next day he looked better. Not perfect but enough to come home, and I had him in CPU for a couple of days then let him out with the others. A few days later when I went out to check them at night, he couldn't stand again. That was what took me to the vet with him the first time, losing the ability to stand up. And his neck was very weak it would just lay on the ground as he tried to stand up.
So back to the vet, now the second time. But nothing was out of range with blood or electrolytes. He just declined rapidly, and then no movement at all barely a blink or twitch in his eye. So I had to euthanize him as well.
There were only a few subtle signs leading up to this, to make me wonder if anything was happening with him. I thought that I would recognize anything like what happened with my first duck because of the experience. That one was much slower coming on and progressing. This was almost overnight.

I thought they had several years left in them. Especially since they are protected well from predators or any harmful animals. And of course they eat well so they are (were) happy ducks, until lately, living an idyllic life on the pond during the day, and coming in to shelter at night.

Is it common, that this breed of duck just doesn't live as many years as other ducks? Even when they appear to be well and going strong for several years?

I'm especially confused over losing my last baby. They just couldn't find any reason or explanation for what was happening.

Thank you for reading, I know it got long. Would love to hear others thoughts.

I’m so sorry for your losses!

I’m not a crested owner myself so I don’t have a lot to share, but excess potassium “hyperkalemia” is most often a result of something wrong with the kidneys, a buildup of potassium as well as urea in the blood as a result of kidney issues can cause a host of neurological problems.

 

[ruthhope]

I wanted to see if I can hear from others, who have experience with this breed regarding lifespan after they've become adults.

My flock started out as four of them, all drakes. All was well up until about 1 year ago when they were 4 and a half years old, that's when I lost one of them because of the neurological problems that come with the breed. The vet at the time told me that it's usually something seen very early on unless there is trauma. Which I guess would have come when they were going at each other during mating season. Anyway it came on slowly, I'd say a month maybe two of seeing the signs slowly and then realizing something was wrong.

Now a year later, at 5 and 1/2 years, I just lost another one. The vet was not able to point to anything that she could treat. When I first took him in he had a very high potassium level, she treated that with an IV flush and the next day he looked better. Not perfect but enough to come home, and I had him in CPU for a couple of days then let him out with the others. A few days later when I went out to check them at night, he couldn't stand again. That was what took me to the vet with him the first time, losing the ability to stand up. And his neck was very weak it would just lay on the ground as he tried to stand up.
So back to the vet, now the second time. But nothing was out of range with blood or electrolytes. He just declined rapidly, and then no movement at all barely a blink or twitch in his eye. So I had to euthanize him as well.
There were only a few subtle signs leading up to this, to make me wonder if anything was happening with him. I thought that I would recognize anything like what happened with my first duck because of the experience. That one was much slower coming on and progressing. This was almost overnight.

I thought they had several years left in them. Especially since they are protected well from predators or any harmful animals. And of course they eat well so they are (were) happy ducks, until lately, living an idyllic life on the pond during the day, and coming in to shelter at night.

Is it common, that this breed of duck just doesn't live as many years as other ducks? Even when they appear to be well and going strong for several years?

I'm especially confused over losing my last baby. They just couldn't find any reason or explanation for what was happening.

Thank you for reading, I know it got long. Would love to hear others thoughts.

So sad for your loss.

I had a crested pekin who was special needs as he survived a raccoon attack when he was a little Easter fluffy. He was abandoned at the vet and came to me via a friend who took him in and raised him for 3 months. He lost the upper part of his bill in the attack but lived in the coop with the other ducks with two accommodations: a deep feeding bowl and his own dog crate to sleep in at night. He was always "boss duck" in his mind ( which was funny as most of the others were muscovy drakes at least twice his size. He never had central nervous system symptoms but stopped walking at about 3 years old. I did take him to a vet and no cause was found for his stopping walking -- he could swim in a pool just not weight bare. He died suddenly and unexpectedly 6 months later and was found to have a tumor coming from his pelvis our by his vent.

My son has a female crested pekin. She will be 5 in February and has never had any neurological symptoms. She is very bossy with the drake ( who tolerates her) and exceptionally loud, and not the best layer. But she is such a character, and well loved by all who know her!!

So in our sample of 2, no neurological symptoms; the drake died at 3.5 years from an unrelated to his crested, pelvic tumor and the female is going strong at nearly 5 years old.

 

[Debby Duck]

I’m so sorry for your losses!

I’m not a crested owner myself so I don’t have a lot to share, but excess potassium “hyperkalemia” is most often a result of something wrong with the kidneys, a buildup of potassium as well as urea in the blood as a result of kidney issues can cause a host of neurological problems.

Yes thank you for mentioning that. On the first vet visit when his potassium was high, the vet mentioned that, but when checking the kidneys couldn't find anything wrong there. Then when I had to take him back potassium wasn't even a problem then.

 

[Debby Duck]

So sad for your loss.

I had a crested pekin who was special needs as he survived a raccoon attack when he was a little Easter fluffy. He was abandoned at the vet and came to me via a friend who took him in and raised him for 3 months. He lost the upper part of his bill in the attack but lived in the coop with the other ducks with two accommodations: a deep feeding bowl and his own dog crate to sleep in at night. He was always "boss duck" in his mind ( which was funny as most of tge others were muscovy drakes at least twice his size. He never had central nervous system symptoms but stopped walking at about 3 years old. I did take him to a vet and no cause was found for his stopping walking -- he could swim in a pool just not weight bare. He died suddenly and unexpectedly 6 months later and was found to have a tumor coming from his pelvis our by his vent.

My son has a female crested pekin. She will be 5 in February and has never had any neurological symptoms. She is very bossy with the drake ( who tolerates her) and exceptionally loud, and not the best layer. But she is such a character, and well loved by all who know her!!

So in our sample of 2, no neurological symptoms; the drake died at 3.5 years from an unrelated to his crested, pelvic tumor and the female is going strong at nearly 5 years old.

I love "boss duck"! I called my guy "top duck", and he really was that. Interesting about the walking, because the first one that died with me could also swim, but not walk. That makes sense I guess it's about weight-bearing. Towards the end I would have to go down to the lake and pick him up at night. Although he was standing while he waited for me. I hope the loud little girl stays healthy.