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Post by fluffychook on Oct 10, 2008 10:40:51 GMT 8
My new drake is acting very strangely this morning. He hunching himself up and trying to drag his bottom on the ground almost like he is constipated or irritated. I noticed yesterday after I got him that he was doing extremely watery poos. Any help would be appreciated
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 10, 2008 14:58:43 GMT 8
Interesting. I cant offer much help on that one however my indie drake does a similar thing just after he's mated one of his ducks on the dirt (not in his pond).
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Post by horses7 on Oct 11, 2008 8:21:29 GMT 8
Sorry fluffy, I dont know muck about ducks at all, the only thing I can suggest is possibly it is through stress, when poultry are moved etc they do get stressed and this so I have been told, also lowers their natural immune system, if it was me the first thing I would do would be to isolate the 2 new ducks, to make certain that if he has anything contagious the others dont get it and do the regular, worm, delice, and monitor them closely re how much they are eating etc, as it could be even the change of diet that is causing it. Good luck and let us know how you get on
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 11, 2008 10:35:33 GMT 8
Thanks, I have only one isolation cage and I have already put the drake in there. This morning his crop appears normal. We checked his crop massaging it and hanging upside down. Nothing, his breath also smelt normal. I am starting to think it may just be stress. He is quiet in the cage and is drinking, but does not appear to be eating, even lettuce which redchook said was bribe food. I have also treated him with ivermectin and will just monitor him
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Post by horses7 on Oct 11, 2008 22:35:30 GMT 8
This a pick me up meal for chooks that are a little off colour 1/2 to 1 cooked egg yolk - crumbled into mixture 1 teaspoon honey 2 tablespoons of natural yogurt, 2 to 4 tablespoons of rolled oats A few grains of multi vitamin powder 2 tablespoons of grated apple
this is suppose to get the tummy back into balance plus give them a bit of a boost, with chooks if their poo in really watery you do need to be careful they don't get dehydrated, but I dont know if this is the same for ducks. Hope everything works out OK
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 12, 2008 7:54:30 GMT 8
Thanks for the pick me up recipe, I just have a question, Would the multi vitamin powder be for people, animals or specifically poultry? He appears to be drinking ok, but is still doing the funny push your bottom forward like trying to drag it on the ground on occasion. It comes on suddenly like an itch you just have to scratch immediately. Can you post video's on this site? That would really show you what it is he is doing.
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Post by horses7 on Oct 13, 2008 6:54:14 GMT 8
The vitamins I use are specifically for poultry (birds) and you should be able to get some from the stock feed place, you have any problems getting any send me a PM and I will post you some. also dont know about posting a video but you could put a link to one. Have you checked him for lice or fleas as the vent is an area where they seem to like to congregate
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 13, 2008 7:34:54 GMT 8
Thanks Judy, I will check out the local feed shop. I made up a batch this morning without the vitamins, he has ignored it so far. He is drinking and is of a good weight, so at the moment I am not worried. I have been given the phone number of a vet in Booragoon who may help if things deteriorate.
I tried to check him yesterday and found just feathers and not much else. I treated him with Ivermectin which should also fix any lice and flea problem.
I also put a post with the online vet link you put on. The reply was Sour Crop and should clear in a few days. But his breath is normal, I thought it should be stinking.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 14, 2008 10:03:10 GMT 8
Didn't find any multivitamins yesterday, will look further later. I fed the drake the pick me up nosh and he is eating it. Hopefully it will help
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 15, 2008 14:13:40 GMT 8
An update on Benjamin, he ate some of his nosh again this morning and was looking very restless in the isolation cage. So seeing it was going to be very warm today we decided to let him wander the back yard. (Wait until hubby finds the poo, he won't be happy...lol). We put one of the girls with him and they are both resting happily under a tree. His crop is looking normal and we have not seen him do his funny dance motions for a couple of days. Later on we will let the rest of the flock out and monitor what happens. Hopefully he is fully recovered.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 15, 2008 16:24:27 GMT 8
After letting the other drake and duck with them it showed that he is still very weak. Sooty was doing the dominance thing and stressing Benjamin. So we separated them again. We have decided we will let Benjamin out each day with a duck for company for a good couple of weeks and monitor him during that time. He is still eating very little but drinking ok.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 16, 2008 18:25:30 GMT 8
Benjamin deteriorated today, he was unable to walk and one leg seemed useless. We took him to the vet and she said he had a neurological disorder possibly caused by trauma. She had seen a few chooks recently with the same problem and they don't recover. His leg was cold and lifeless. So with great regret and not a few tears, we said goodbye to a drake who found a special place in our hearts in only a week.
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Post by horses7 on Oct 16, 2008 18:36:28 GMT 8
So so sorry on your loss of Benjamin, you did everything you possibly could to help him
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Post by chooken on Oct 16, 2008 18:49:45 GMT 8
You did everything you could have done for him Fluffychook. I am sure he was grateful for all of the loving care and attention you gave him.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 16, 2008 19:47:19 GMT 8
Thanks, still getting misty eyed....lol. It is still a hard road even when you try everything you can think of. I just felt so frustrated in not knowing what was wrong and worse not knowing how to fix it.
He was a lovely boy and I have a few eggs Penelope laid when we first got them. I am going to incubate them, hopefully they are fertile.
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