My duck is exhibiting strange behavior

[Cayuga Lover]

Hi everyone! I’m new to the forum although I have been looking things up here for about two years. My husband and I have a Cayuga duck who is 1 year 7 months old who is exhibiting strange behavior. I’ve looked everywhere here and haven’t found a thread that helps me.

About two weeks ago, she was sneezing a bit and sounded like she was trying to clear her throat. Thankfully, that only lasted a day or two. But then she started tilting her head when she swallows - both for food and water. The strange thing is that she tilts it in both directions, sometimes to her right, sometimes to her left. She tilts it sideways like this when the other ducks tilt their head back to swallow, if that makes sense.

We were hoping it would clear up on its own, but it hasnt, so a week ago we started all our ducks on chick boost (we had it because we got ducklings 8 weeks ago) and diatomaceous earth. We also put apple cider vinegar in their water when we’re not giving chick boost. We normally give our ducks apple cider vinegar and chick or hen boost two to three times a week. We’ve also used diatomaceous earth for three to four days at a time once a month.

This duck is eating normally, eating snacks of peas, meal worms, grapes and tomatoes (not all at the same time!) and acting perfectly normal aside from the strange head tilting when she swallows. It would make some kind of sense if she always tilted to the same side, but we have no idea what’s happening with her. Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cayuga Lover]

I forgot, we also started adding brewer’s yeast to their food at the same time as the chick boost and diatomaceous earth. We thought it might help if she had some kind of bone injury.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is there anyway you can upload a video here of what she is doing? I don't think I have ever heard of this particular thing but seeing on vid can help others maybe figure out. You'll have to upload on you tube or viemo then copy and paste here.

 

[chickens really]

Is water deep enough to get head submerged?
Possibly grass, feed or something stuck. Not sure how you manage your Birds?..All those extras are not needed.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! If you can, post a video, that would be helpful. To post video, upload to YouTube or Vimeo, then copy/paste the link here.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

You might want to google “Gape worms”. See if they are found were you live. If so, check the symptoms and deworm as recommended. Good luck!

 

[Cayuga Lover]

I will try to get a video when it’s light out.

As far as the extras, we weren’t sure what was going on, so we decided to give them a bit of everything to see if we could get her feeling better and keep the others from getting sick. As far as I know, none of that stuff will hurt them.

We did notice that when we’re giving her treats and her head is up to get them, she doesn’t tilt her head to swallow. When she’s bent over to get food and water out of her bowls, then comes up to swallow is when she tilts her head.

And yes, we always make sure the water is deep enough to dunk their heads.

 

[Cayuga Lover]

As far as gape worm, we considered that, hence the diatomaceous earth, but I have no idea if it will work on gape worm. No other birds are showing syptoms of anything. I have been googling and just checked again, I can’t find anything about where gape worms are found. We’re in New Hampshire if someone could tell me if that’s a concern here. I appreciate all the suggestions and help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I use to use DE for worming way back until my chickens kept getting round worms anyway. It really only helps keep feed and food stuffs from spoiling that's about it. I stopped buying it.
Maybe contact your extension office there and ask if they know if poultry are susceptible to gape worm in your region.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly swallowed something that's stuck in its crop. Small nail or something that can't be dislodged?