Recent content by ruthhope

I would inquire of the vet if there is liquid form of the antibiotic as it is much easier to give through a narrow plastic syringe down the side of the tongue. I have never successfully got tablets into a duck, even cut into quarters. I certainly would use calcium gluconate if she is not...

Your girl needs "big girl" duck food! You can use duck pellets, or all flock pellets with extra niacin added. When she starts laying -- maybe from 4 or 5 months old, she will need layer feed, with extra niacin if it is chicken layer feed, not duck layer feed. She will enjoy chopped lettuce or...

My muscovy drakes do not create a muddy mess. Their wading pool has to be emptied every 4 days and scrubbed to stop mosquito larvae hatching, but its not muddy. I fish leaves out of the water every evening and it would be usable for more than 4 days if it were not for mosquitoes. But I only...

I am sorry but if she has lost large amounts of full thickness skin, this wound is probably not survivable. That being said, I would certainly be giving her full care in the hopes the wound will granulate and heal from the bottom. That needs there to be no infection and for the duck to be calm...

That's a great enclosure. You say the base is concrete. Is the floor concrete? If it is, I would cover with rubber mats or a very deep layer of bedding to protect the ducks feet. Extending over the grass would be great. Alternatively, or temporarily until you extend the enclosure onto grass...

My son has a pekin (female not drake) that started pulling her neck down and into her chest when she is stressed. Running round the backyard she is fine, but pulls in her neck and runs away when I go into the back yard. She has known me for more than 3 years l, since she was a little yellow...

Yes, please share a photograph. I was in suburban northern Virginia for 11 months last year, with my ducks. They slept in a secure shed and free ranged in a large, fully privacy fenced, backyard. But unlike in my own neighborhood in NE Florida, a mama raccoon with 4 kits, and a red fox started...

With a predator that knows you have ducks coming back, be assured the fox (and others) will continue to return while you have ducks. For their safety, your ducks need confining to a predator proof run. They cannot be allowed to free range. You need to construct a run that has a strong frame and...

Domestic or not, that duckling needs care until it is old enough to fend for itself in the wild. Have you looked around outside for its mama and clutch mates? It would be best to get it back there if possible. Otherwise, it needs care until it is 8 or so weeks old.

Welcome to BYC. Are your ducks going through a phase? Maybe. Are you doomed? I doubt it!! Ducks have personalities and can be fickle. You are doing all the right things to encourage your ducks to be super human friendly. The majority of my ducks are "nosy": they want to be around when I am out...

I have known many drakes, muscovy and pekin, that have "belched". I think your boy is an extreme example of that. Some duck keepers say that the drakes are adjusting their crops when they do it. Others say that it is male behavior showing off .. I do know that I had a pekin drake that would...

I am so glad he is doing well. I haven't removed various protrusions from injured bills and they have all done OK. Some wear down into nubs. I had one bill with a sort of knob on it sticking upwards. Various duck-keeper and wild life habilitator friends predicted it would be knocked of, but it...

Very sad for you and your duck. She could have had a congenital heart problem or other malfunction. I am glad she didn't suffer for long

I had a drake that started labored breathing like your duck, last year around April. He was older than yours, but his breathing was with his mouth open and with indrawing of his side muscles and he became lethargic. I was worried sick too! Anxieties about our duck's health is common...

Brewers yeast should be enough for your ducklings. I wonder if they ate something toxic while foraging. If you cannot get to a vet, I would keep them inside the coup/run rather than let them free range and continue supportable care (electrolytes and encouraging them to eat with nutritious...