Worried about my ducks health. Please help

[duckitup]

I don't have any good pics yet but when I do I will. This is all I have so far, from his kennel to and from the vet. Since being home he hasnt pooped anywhere but in his pool. Oh and in his kennel he punctured his "hot water bottle" so it is diluted but wanted to post for the color. Its very green.

 

[casportpony]

I don't have any good pics yet but when I do I will. This is all I have so far, from his kennel to and from the vet. Since being home he hasnt pooped anywhere but in his pool. Oh and in his kennel he punctured his "hot water bottle" so it is diluted but wanted to post for the color. Its very green.

That could be green from not eating. If it is green from not eating the color will change after you get food into him. If the color does not change, you will need to call your vet.

-Kathy

 

[duckitup]

K, thanks Kathy.

 

[casportpony]

See how slimy it looks?


-Kathy

 

[duckitup]

What does slimy mean? He is eating meal worms, the dried kind, so he can't be totally empty. I'm making another slurry right now to try syringing again if I can't get this down tonight I will go back to the vet for croo feeding demo. What about his symptoms makes you think it could be worms?again.

 

[casportpony]

What does slimy mean? He is eating meal worms, the dried kind, so he can't be totally empty. I'm making another slurry right now to try syringing again if I can't get this down tonight I will go back to the vet for croo feeding demo. What about his symptoms makes you think it could be worms?again.

When I see that sort of weight loss in mine I always think worms could be contributing to the loss, but what worries me more is the color of the poop and that he has an infection in his eye, which could mean he has an intestinal infection as well. Did the vet suggest doing a gram stain on he poop to check for bacteria?

As for the slimy part... when my geese and ducks eat lots of grass their poop is green, but it still looks like normal poop. His poop looks more like green slime than green poop. Does that make sense?


-Kathy

 

[duckitup]

@Kathy I see. No they didn't suggest a gram stain. I will call them tomorrow and ask about that and the worms. I wonder also if the eye infection and the not eating are related or not. It is just so strange. Every one else in the flock seems perfect. At least so far. I'm going to try to catch one of the other ducks that grew at the same rate as him and weigh him to see where he should probably be. I'll be weighing this one every day. At the vet he was 1311 grams. Just tried a second syringe feeding. Used about 12 cc's but probably had about 2 or 3 cc's wasted. So I'm going to count this feeding as 9 cc's. The vet said between 20-40 cc's per day. Big range but they said I could tell when he had enough by his crop.

The vet made it sound like crop feeding was a lot more dangerous than syringe feeding (as long as syringe feeding is done through the side of the mouth). What are your thoughts on it? Is Crop feeding safer?

 

[casportpony]

@Kathy I see. No they didn't suggest a gram stain. I will call them tomorrow and ask about that and the worms. I wonder also if the eye infection and the not eating are related or not. It is just so strange. Every one else in the flock seems perfect. At least so far. I'm going to try to catch one of the other ducks that grew at the same rate as him and weigh him to see where he should probably be. I'll be weighing this one every day. At the vet he was 1311 grams. Just tried a second syringe feeding. Used about 12 cc's but probably had about 2 or 3 cc's wasted. So I'm going to count this feeding as 9 cc's. The vet said between 20-40 cc's per day. Big range but they said I could tell when he had enough by his crop.

The vet made it sound like crop feeding was a lot more dangerous than syringe feeding (as long as syringe feeding is done through the side of the mouth). What are your thoughts on it? Is Crop feeding safer?

If you can hold him like the pictures in the duck link I sent, then you can tube him. With a large enough tube it's almost impossible to put the tube in the wrong hole. Placed correctly, the tube will be in the crop. The correct amount given slowly has close to zero risk. Honestly, the hardest part is figuring out how to hold them.

Regarding the amount to feed them, this is what I know... Total crop volume is ~5% of their weight. Since he is thin, it actually might be more, but ignore that for now. The experts say to give 1/2 to 1/3 of the 5%, so I usually give 1/2. The amount they have recommended is well within the normal range, so I think that's okay.

I am available by phone to coach you through this if your vet won't show you.

-Kathy

 

[duckitup]

He is displayimg duck happiness!!! Dunking his head in the water to have it go down his back....we all konw that fun

I put minnows from our pond in his pool and he is loving it. it's the little victories! Hopefully it keeps going that way over whelmed with happiness right now.

 

[Amiga]

Okay, finally have a little time to check in.

For human immune systems, I think the value of walking and dancing are undervalued. Muscle movement pumps the lymph system - and helps rid the body of toxins and pathogens. It also keeps the blood oxygen higher, and core temperature higher - both of those discourage pathogens. With ducks, it's similar, probably - they need their exercise, too.

Lots of green vegetables, and colorful vegetables, some mushrooms, and seaweed. Again, probably goes for all of us, ducks and humans.

I have been trying cat's claw herb. Some folks aren't big fans of herbs, but that's their approach. A couple of others that have some possible benefit, I have read, are astragalus resveritrol.

Glad Kathy is around to help with the tub feeding - I have not had to do that yet.

Hugs to you all.

And yes, picking up my Runners to get a feel for their body condition is the way I do it. I do not do it every month, I am especially likely to check on a broody, or someone who has been under the weather, but periodically I do the whole flock. It's kind of fun, even for them. But I have poured many hours into socializing them.