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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 5, 2009 13:02:57 GMT 8
Ok, Im feeling able to post this now. Sadly this morning before work, one of my gorgeous Pekin ducks died in my arms I hadnt noticed her looking ill before this morning. I went out as usual and checked their food and went to fill up their pond with fresh water. She was in the pen just staanding quietly having a drink. She looked a strange colour. I know they are all white feathers and yellow beaks but she just looked palid or something. I went over and she let me pick her up which they dont normally do. I patted her head and she layed her head on my chest. She then started flapping a bit so I put her down. She flopped around and had a spasm or something so I picked her up again quickly. While I was holding her she passed away... All that in about 30 seconds if that I put her down on the hay in their house because I didnt want the littlies to get upsety and went to find a blanket to wrap her in. When I came back Sunny my drake was in a state and trying to "wake her up" Alan and I were balling this morning. Not a good day. Ive been trying to think what it could have been. Water fresh, food fresh. Could it have been a spider? We have redbacks and other spiders around. Maybe it was something else she ate from around the garden? They forage all night around the garden. Seemed fine yesterday evening when they were out and about. I may never know I guess.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 5, 2009 13:17:48 GMT 8
Aw shame, Im so sorry Wendy *hugz* Sounds very sudden. Could she have eaten something toxic in the garden maybe? I guess it couldve been a spider.. Maybe she was bitten by a snake?
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 5, 2009 13:33:00 GMT 8
Big hugs Wendy, so sad. But the good thing is she was with you when she passed and you didn't just find her. I hope you find the cause and can fix it easily.
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 5, 2009 14:25:46 GMT 8
Thanks girls I havent ever seen a snake in our yard. I dont think its that. We have big fences all the way around. I think it must be something out of the garden, either a bug/spider or a poisonous plant of some kind. We have lots of things with seeds and berries etc. at the moment. Im sure some of them are bad. I guess too its possible she had a medical condition of some sort that I couldnt know about. Couldve been a heart attack from something or anything! How she looked and the way she died like that makes me think it was her heart that gave out from one reason or another. The others looked fine but I will be keeping a closer eye on them. They will be looking for her for a few days.
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Post by ikbokchook on Oct 5, 2009 16:46:02 GMT 8
Oh - you poor thing - that is very sad It is very hard especially if you don't know the cause. Hopefully it was a one off and all your other duckies will be fine.
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Post by rap on Oct 5, 2009 19:00:52 GMT 8
Sorry to hear you lost one of your ducks.
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Post by shea on Oct 5, 2009 19:16:24 GMT 8
so sorry Wendy, hope all her friends aren't too upset.
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Post by luv4ducks on Oct 16, 2009 8:24:55 GMT 8
I'm sorry to hear that Wendy, it's heartbreaking to see this happen:( I lost one of my ducks over the weekend aswell, in the same way, and we discovered it was a dangerously low blood sugar level, as the weather is getting warmer they are burning up the glucose in there bodies a lot faster, if the weather is a gradual change it isn't as bad as they can adapt, but the warmer weather has come from nowhere, Nothing you could have done would have saved her, but if you suspect any of your other ducks aren't quiet themselves, mix 4 tablespoons of raw sugar into 1 litre of tepid water and let them drink it, it will give them a boost of glucose, also a huge boost of energy so be prepared for ducks running around like mad and making a racket until it stabilizes. Another thing you can try is get hold of some of the low GI sugar, and add about half a teaspoon to there usual feed, as this will only give them a small amount of slow release sugar, you shouldn't have too much running around. You were right to suspect the heart, as the sugar levels drop the heart is usually the hardest hit. I'm really sorry for your loss, and I hope that you can start again without too much problem
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Post by luv4ducks on Oct 16, 2009 8:48:51 GMT 8
I forgot to mention, check the feet of your other ducks aswell, if there is something that looks like an abnormal growth ie a wart, with a hard black scab in the center, this is a condition called bumble foot, and it will require vet treatment. In most cases the bumble foot is fine but if they ever happen to loosen the blag scab it realeases toxins into the blood stream and it will give you similar symptoms as you've described, this is due to the fact that bumblefoot is a staph infection, if you're game enough you can remove it yourself as I have done in the past, but I would recommend a vet doing it, as they will also need a course of antibiotics to complete the healing. I've included a pic of what to look out for Good luck Attachments:
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 16, 2009 9:03:17 GMT 8
Thanks Brendon, I will do that. The others look fine, but I wont take any chances. Sorry to hear about your duck too Cheers, Wendy
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Post by ashley on Oct 16, 2009 19:19:57 GMT 8
Sorry to hear about your loss Wendy, that's heartbreaking.
Ashley
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Post by lakelands on Oct 17, 2009 18:15:31 GMT 8
sorry to hear about your little fella. I hope the rest are all OK.. ...Hugz
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Post by beck on Oct 18, 2009 9:29:50 GMT 8
oh so sad Wendy i hope your drake is ok too as he will be sad too i guess ! .. thinking of you and at least she had some comfort as you held her in the end so she was not on her own !
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Post by Duck Diva on Nov 19, 2009 21:09:00 GMT 8
Just lost another girl this morning I cant believe it! Im now thinking it could be the Lantana hedge along the driveway so its days are numbered! So Im down to Sunny and Fluffy now. Im just so bloody upset and angry about it.... you know. Im hoping to send Annie some feathers when she gets back for her huby to test and see if it comes up with anthing.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Nov 19, 2009 21:24:57 GMT 8
Aw, I'm sorry Wendy *hugz* Sounds like a good idea to send some feathers to Annie, at least then you should hopefully know why this is happening.
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