Duck Ear/Head Problems? Need Help!!

[Macro]

Today when I went out to let my ducks into their small makeshift pool, I noticed that one of them was tilting his head back and kind of trying to rub the side of his face (ear?) on his shoulder. Has anyone else had this problem? This is the first time I've seen him do it but something seems to really be bothering him and I'm concerned. The vet isn't open until tomorrow but if anyone has any ideas about what I can do in the meantime about it, I'd appreciate it.

Besides the head tilting/rubbing, his behavior is completely the same. He eats and drinks and cleans and sleeps. Poop is the same. In fact, when I pick him up or he's bedded down he doesn't really try to rub his head the way he does when he's standing. I checked his neck, head, and ears for any kind of injuries or bumps and couldn't find anything.

It's kind of like a tilt to the side and back like he's rubbing his ear on his side? I'm not sure what to do. I was thinking maybe ear infection or something in his ear?

***UPDATE*** By the end of the night last night, Nikolai (the duck) seemed to be doing much better. He was still tilting his head but wasn't continuously rubbing it on his side like before. However, when I took them out into the grass this morning for some time in the bath Nikolai started doing it again. This time it looks worse. He's got some balance issues and he's really craning his head back. Sometimes it looks like he's throwing it back. It's hard for me to tell if it's voluntary or not but a lot of times he throws his head back and it makes him fall over. I can't get to the vet until tomorrow. I'm calling around to see if we have any poultry specific vets out here. I got a better video of his head craning. Let me know if anyone has any idea what it is. I'd like to treat him as soon as possible and really don't want to have to get rid of him.

 

[Macro]

Ducky doesn't seem to be doing head tilts all the way back as much. He has started shaking his head side to side like he's trying to shake something out.

 

[ChicknThief]

I could be wrong, but it looks like he is just grooming himself to me....

 

[Macro]

Really? I guess I didn't get the best video. He only seems to do it on the one side and even after he stops his head stays tilted to that side. Maybe I'm over reacting. Haha. I'll keep an eye on him and if it starts getting pronounced again I'll try and get a better video.

 

[Macro]

He seems to be getting worse? I posted an updated account as well as a better video of the head tilting/craning/whatever you want to call it. If anyone has any advice, let me know.

 

[Macro]

So the neck throwing has dissipated a bit, but now ducky seems to be stretching his neck out a lot. His head tilt is worse. Makes me wonder if it's gape worm? He's not coughing and I don't hear him weezing or anything though.

Tomorrow morning I will reevaluate him and then visit some of the local feed stores to see if anyone has anything to help the poor guy along. I called the vet's office today and they won't see me until Friday afternoon. I really hope he's okay until then.

 

[Macro]

Found another place out here that does poultry. Will be seeing them in 3 hours. I separated him from the other two, much to his dismay, and put him in a box in my room with sterilized food and water equipment. He's started walking in circles a lot and I'm afraid if I left him in the kiddle pool we were keeping him in, he might injure himself on the wire cage. Box seems safer. He's much worse than before. He's gotten completely unable to clean his belly because every time he puts his head down, his neck snaps back. He's been peeping a lot today and I'm worried that means he's in pain. JUST 3 MORE HOURS LITTLE DUCKY!

 

[lovinchicks]

do you think it's neurological or something bothering it's ears maybe?

 

[Macro]

My first thought was definitely something about the ears. I checked inside both ears and couldn't see any kind of obstruction. So I guessed inner ear infection. He's had some balance problems when tilting his head down or up. Not when holding his head normally. So I figured... of course inner ear problem.

However, it's progressed into neck stretching and an extremely tilted neck, so I'm starting to think it's something wrong with the neck or in the neck.

I really hope it's not neurological because I don't really want to put him down. However he IS a crested and I've heard they're more likely to have neurological problems. I guess if it comes to that, I'll have to get rid of him.

 

[Macro]

Just got back from the vet's. I was in there for like 3 hours!!

The news is kinda iffy. The vet wasn't really able to pinpoint what it could be. She said either: (1) It is an ear infection like I originally thought it was, (2) It is neurological either viral which we can't do much about or caused by a parasite in which case deworming him could work, (3) It's caused by a parasite somewhere else which would be taken care of with worming, (4) It's a vitamin deficiency. So basically I've got him on antibiotics for the ear thing and polyvisol for the vitamin deficiency if he has that. They took a fecal and we'll get that back in a day or two to see if he has parasites. If none of that works, I will probably cull him. I don't really want to kill him but I feel bad that he's suffering so much. I know he's freaked out and has short periods of time where he seems to be in pain.