Clear liquid from vent

[JessWolo]

Hi all! I’m hoping I can get some answers and insight from more experienced duck owners. I have 4 runner girls, about 5 months old. 2 of them just started laying this week (not sure which 2). As of today, I noticed one of my girls just not acting herself. Kind of going off on her own, not running around like she usually is (and she is the ring leader). While I was watching her she wasn’t pooping, and I noticed a clear liquid coming out of her. I decided to bring her in the house, away from the others and give her some TLC. She is just pouring this clear liquid out of her vent, to the point where her belly feathers are soaked. She’s eating and drinking, but still not acting her normal self. I’ve put her in a warm tub with Epsom salts, probiotics and ACV in her water. She’s not having a lot of bowel movements, just A LOT of this clear liquid/mucus coming out of her. Any ideas or suggestions?! I’m desperate to get her feeling better. I plan on calling the vet tomorrow, but everyone on here seems pretty helpful, too, in the meantime. Thanks in advance!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all! I’m hoping I can get some answers and insight from more experienced duck owners. I have 4 runner girls, about 5 months old. 2 of them just started laying this week (not sure which 2). As of today, I noticed one of my girls just not acting herself. Kind of going off on her own, not running around like she usually is (and she is the ring leader). While I was watching her she wasn’t pooping, and I noticed a clear liquid coming out of her. I decided to bring her in the house, away from the others and give her some TLC. She is just pouring this clear liquid out of her vent, to the point where her belly feathers are soaked. She’s eating and drinking, but still not acting her normal self. I’ve put her in a warm tub with Epsom salts, probiotics and ACV in her water. She’s not having a lot of bowel movements, just A LOT of this clear liquid/mucus coming out of her. Any ideas or suggestions?! I’m desperate to get her feeling better. I plan on calling the vet tomorrow, but everyone on here seems pretty helpful, too, in the meantime. Thanks in advance!

Hi @JessWolo Welcome To BYC

Hopefully @Miss Lydia @CayugaJana @casportpony can chime in.
I'm not that familiar with ducks.

In the meantime, if you can answer a few questions and add some photos as suggested, that would be great - I'm sure they will be helpful for the others when they come on.

If you can post some photos of your duck so we can see how she is standing that would be good. Photos of her vent and what is coming out will be helpful as well.

You mention it's clear liquid coming out - could it be egg whites? Has this girl been laying eggs? Have you felt inside her vent for an egg?

 

[JessWolo]

Hi @JessWolo Welcome To BYC

Hopefully @Miss Lydia @CayugaJana @casportpony can chime in.
I'm not that familiar with ducks.

In the meantime, if you can answer a few questions and add some photos as suggested, that would be great - I'm sure they will be helpful for the others when they come on.

If you can post some photos of your duck so we can see how she is standing that would be good. Photos of her vent and what is coming out will be helpful as well.

You mention it's clear liquid coming out - could it be egg whites? Has this girl been laying eggs? Have you felt inside her vent for an egg?

Hi! Thanks for responding. I will post photos in the morning, as it is midnight here, and I’m hoping my duck is finally getting some sleep, after a hectic day.
We literally just started getting eggs this week (Tuesday) and I believe only 1 of my girls were laying, until today, we got 2 eggs (different colors). I’m not sure which ones are laying, because I’m not there when they lay. We will soon find out in the morning, since my “under the weather” girl is inside with us.
I did feel inside, and couldn’t feel anything. It was hot and slimy, and some fecal matter was on my glove. But didn’t feel anything abnormal (as far as I know).

With all the research I’m doing, I’m wondering if she has vent gleet?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi! Thanks for responding. I will post photos in the morning, as it is midnight here, and I’m hoping my duck is finally getting some sleep, after a hectic day.
We literally just started getting eggs this week (Tuesday) and I believe only 1 of my girls were laying, until today, we got 2 eggs (different colors). I’m not sure which ones are laying, because I’m not there when they lay. We will soon find out in the morning, since my “under the weather” girl is inside with us.
I did feel inside, and couldn’t feel anything. It was hot and slimy, and some fecal matter was on my glove. But didn’t feel anything abnormal (as far as I know).

With all the research I’m doing, I’m wondering if she has vent gleet?

Doesn't sound like Vent Gleet to me.
Was she alert enough today to drink? Is she hydrated?

 

[JessWolo]

Doesn't sound like Vent Gleet to me.
Was she alert enough today to drink? Is she hydrated?

Yes, she’s alert and getting up and drinking and eating.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, she’s alert and getting up and drinking and eating.

That's good.
Get some photos together when you can and post them.
You get some rest and hopefully she will too

 

[CayugaJana]

Yep the poop inspector general will want pictures to help figure out what’s going on. I’m sorry your girl isn’t feeling well. I always bring mine inside for observation as well. Much to my husbands dismay.

 

[JessWolo]

Update: So, I woke up this morning, with Sophia out of the pen, and in our kitchen eating the cat food. (Who knows how she got out, as she is a flightless runner- lol). She was standing up right, following me around and quacking like usual. In her pen, she had laid a soft shell egg. Is that what could have been making her feel not so great? With clear discharge from her vent? The egg seems to be intact, but there is definitely no shell. Any advice or insight is appreciated! Thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: So, I woke up this morning, with Sophia out of the pen, and in our kitchen eating the cat food. (Who knows how she got out, as she is a flightless runner- lol). She was standing up right, following me around and quacking like usual. In her pen, she had laid a soft shell egg. Is that what could have been making her feel not so great? With clear discharge from her vent? The egg seems to be intact, but there is definitely no shell. Any advice or insight is appreciated! Thanks

Glad she is doing better!
If you have photos of the egg that would be good.
Does she still have a discharge from the vent?

I'm not a duck expert at all, but I will say yes - a soft shell egg can make a chicken feel poorly, so I will say it's the same way with a duck.

A lot of times the diet/nutrition needs to be looked at. She's new at laying, so that could be a contributing factor as well.
Hopefully the others will chime in and give you some great tips/suggestions as always

 

[JessWolo]

I have some pics and videos! Her vent looks dry, and isn’t seeping that clear drainage, but she’s still expelling a lot of the clear, with particles in it.

Attached are pictures of her, all from today. The feces pic is current, that’s the only time I witness her evacuation. Still having a lot of clear fluid with it.

She has a vet appointment at 6:30 today.