4 week old wheezy duckling - what's wrong?

[cymbaline]

So I recently rescued two baby mallards that someone let loose at the lake. They had come from the pet store; about 3 weeks old at the time, no adult feathers, and the temperature dropped below freezing the night I brought them home...poor (but lucky) babies

Anyway, I've noticed one of them has been wheezing a lot. He seems healthy otherwise; he's by far the larger of the two, and seems to have just as much energy and appetite as the other one, and his eyes look fine. They live inside with me, and they get a full bathtub of water every day (although only for a couple hours, not all day, until they get more adult feathers), so I would think if his nostrils were clogged he'd have cleared them by now. Should I be worried?



This is a picture from yesterday. He's on the right, trying to eat a dandelion stem, I believe. The one on the left sounds like she's beginning to "quack", so I'm pretty sure she's a "she". She is also much more developed feather-wise...not really sure why. Plus I've never seen a white patch (on the back of her neck) on a mallard baby before - wonder if she's mixed?

 

[Amiga]

It is possible that he has a respiratory infection. If that is the case, antibiotics are generally recommended. I don't know much about them, as we have so far not needed them.

You can give them vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics to boost their little systems, and see if you can get some antibiotics for the little wheezer. Please keep us posted.

Also, if you know a vet or waterfowl rehabilitator, they may be able to give you more specific information. Or someone on the Emergency forum may be able to help.

 

[cymbaline]

I've given them Sav-a-chick in their water a few times so far, just to make sure they have enough nutrients (niacin in particular). Now that you mention it, I do have some Baytril, which as I recall is actually a bird antibiotic, but I had bought it a while back for some pet rats with respiratory infections. I'll try to find out the proper dosage and give him some of that and see if he gets better. I really don't think it's an emergency situation as he seems fine otherwise, but I definitely don't want it to get worse. Thanks.

 

[Amiga]

I only know what I have read, which is to be careful with Baytril (tummy troubles). Not saying don't, just saying probiotics would be a really really good idea.

Ducks can get their gut flora whacked out, and that is unpleasant and not so healthy, either.

Good for you for staying on top of this!

 

[cymbaline]

Hmm, it appears more research is definitely in order, unless someone chimes in that has a lot of experience with this kind of thing.

 

[jessiduck]

I would stop putting them in water.
When ducks are babies and don't have adult feathers to cover them, their skin can get chilled making their
cold worse.
I would bring them to a vet if it gets worse...please look into it!!

 

[cymbaline]

I've been watching him more closely and thinking about this some more, and I really only ever hear it when he's sitting/lying down, usually when he's near sleep or sleeping. He is very large (fat?), in my opinion, much larger than the other one...is it possible it's kind of like a sleep apnea type of thing, like overweight people get? It sounds silly, I know, but wouldn't I hear it while he was standing up too, if he were truly ill? I keep reading through other forum posts and pretty much everyone else who mentions a wheezing duck says the duck is lethargic, not eating, sneezing a lot, has some discharge, etc...some other symptom beside the noisy breathing. He really seems fine otherwise, so I'm wondering if he's actually ill.
I'm sorry, but I don't buy into "being cold makes you sick". There are reasons why baby ducks shouldn't be in the water long, but I just don't think that's one of them. For the short periods that they are swimming though, they can touch the bottom in case they get tired and it's always warmer water, not cold.

 

[Amiga]

While getting chilled is not good, I lean toward letting them bathe, then bringing them back to a clean, warm, dry brooder and toweling them off if they don't immediately start preening themselves.

You may be onto something with the wheezing noise. Some ducklings do make weird noises while they are sitting down resting.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a medicine Comparison Chart that came with an order i got from Twin city poultry supplies and they say baytril is for the treatment of CRD {chickens} paratyphoid and one eye colds. looks like Tylan is the one recommended for Mg, sinusitis and most respiratory infections.And Amoxicillin being 2nd for respiratory infections. I hope he has neither.

 

[cymbaline]

While getting chilled is not good, I lean toward letting them bathe, then bringing them back to a clean, warm, dry brooder and toweling them off if they don't immediately start preening themselves.

You may be onto something with the wheezing noise. Some ducklings do make weird noises while they are sitting down resting.

They're very good about preening and cleaning themselves and drying off, plus I bring them back to a blanket on the couch with me afterwards. They are like little space heaters, lol...if they sit in my seat for even a few minutes I can sit down and feel so much warmth where they were.
So you've heard other ducks make a wheezing noise when they're resting too? I never have, I don't think...I've heard sneezing, coughing (when they eat too much dry food without taking a drink of water), and honking, but never this whistling, wheezy noise. I'm watching him right now and I'm wondering if it has to do with the way his head is turned. When Louie got big, he always turned his head and tucked his beak under his wing to sleep, but this little guy is just relaxing his neck and letting his beak sit on his (big fat) chest. I'll have to watch and see if he makes that noise when he tucks his head back (assuming I can catch him doing that).