Strange behavior but no other symptoms

[Debby Duck]

If everything else is fine and he is otherwise healthy it sounds like he is just getting older. From my experience the 4-5 age range in ducks is when they start to slow down some. My drake when he hit 4 years old he slowly started to slow down and not be as energetic. My hen who is the same age is also slowing down. 4 is middle aged for a duck and just like any animal when they hit that middle age mark they start to slow down. My dogs once they turned 4-5 all have started to just be calmer and less energetic. 4 years doesn’t seem old at all to us, but if you think about a ducks lifespan 4 is pretty close to be the equivalent of 40 in human years. Now compare the energy of a 40 year old man to that of a 20 year old.

I keep waiting for mating season to get easier. I can't stand seeing them out there fighting and attacking each other. They're all crested and that's what they go for when they're fighting. And it scares me that something has happened with Pinky. By the end of mating season the four of them have almost no crest left. I have a bachelor pad, all four male.

 

[Debby Duck]

Yeah didn't think it would be that but you never know! lol

Hopefully the people I tagged will reply soon I hope theres nothing wrong with him I don't know what I would do if my drake Taffy, would suddenly stop chasing me!

Loved "don't know what I would do if my drake Taffy, would suddenly stop chasing me!"

Yeah, my Pinky has always been rather ornery. So when that changes you just know something is off!

 

[DaffytheDuck20]

Loved "don't know what I would do if my drake Taffy, would suddenly stop chasing me!"

Thanks! Yes, he will run at me even when I'm 10 metres away!

Yeah, my Pinky has always been rather ornery. So when that changes you just know something is off!

Yes!

 

[Debby Duck]

I just found something else to make this more confusing. I went out to feed the ducks and the feed that I've been giving them I've been noticing clumps and they seem to be clumped with I don't know webbing or something. Well today I started separating another clump and there's a worm. So I've been giving them feed with worms by Purina.

So I'm back to doing more research now probably getting in touch with Purina too.
I'm attaching a little picture of my finding. Not that there's much to determine from it.

 

[Jenbirdee]

worms are ok for ducks but the feed likely has little nutrition left in it - what’s the date on the feed bag? the fresher the better- i learned to try not to buy more than 2 months worth of feed at a time and always read the dates when i’m buying.
i once had a bag sit too long and it grew grain mites in it. it smelled a little funny but i didn’t know for sure until i saw the feed moving! don’t feel bad just get some fresh feed and maybe give your ducks some nutridrench in their water

 

[Debby Duck]

A quick update but not much to say yet. Took Pinky to the vet she checked his blood and did an x-ray to check and make sure he hadn't gotten a hold of some metal or something that may have been toxic to him and still be in him. No findings and she's referred me to an animal eye specialist. I'm taking him in the morning. But so much of his behavior seems like this is beyond just not being able to see. He loses his footing quite often and it doesn't seem to be related to not being able to see where he's going. But we'll see. More after tomorrow's visit.

 

[Jenbirdee]

A quick update but not much to say yet. Took Pinky to the vet she checked his blood and did an x-ray to check and make sure he hadn't gotten a hold of some metal or something that may have been toxic to him and still be in him. No findings and she's referred me to an animal eye specialist. I'm taking him in the morning. But so much of his behavior seems like this is beyond just not being able to see. He loses his footing quite often and it doesn't seem to be related to not being able to see where he's going. But we'll see. More after tomorrow's visit.

i’ll be praying keep us posted

 

[Debby Duck]

So the vision exam showed no real problems. Some small cataracts in one eye but not enough to impair his sight drastically. The doctor said I could consider taking him to a neurologist.

This I specialist is not necessarily someone who is familiar with ducks, just animals in general. And I feel like the vet I go to, even though she is an avian/ exotic animals vet, I don't know that she has a lot of experience with these crested ducks.

I have been researching some previous posts about the neurological problems that I found on this site, as well as others. And I don't know if there's really anything to gain from taking him for more exams. I have not come across one post where someone found a solution to the problems they've experienced. No remedy, no medication nothing to justify continued exams that will just be stressing him out.

I can already answer the question, does it get worse, with a yes. My poor little guy keeps slowly getting worse. He has more and more difficulty walking,. When they came up to eat their favorite dinner, kale, today all he did was walk around the area in circles looking confused, and then headed back down to the lake by himself. I had to put a divider in their coop last night because I was getting so angry at Blackie for constantly harassing him. So I divided them by 2, putting his bestie with him.

For now all I know to do is to try and make his life as comfortable as possible and as it gets worse I really don't know what to do. Unless someone has some information that I just didn't find. So please keep him in your prayers. I think he's going to need them.