If you keep ducks for any amount of time, it’s not a question of if you will run into first aid or health issues, it’s when. Being prepared ahead of time for some of the most common problems and injuries that can occur when keeping ducks can help you promptly and calmly respond to these issues when they arise. Below are some of the most common “troubleshooting” issues you will run into when keeping ducks – I know because I’ve run into many of them firsthand myself.
I will preface this by saying that I’m not a vet and it’s ideal to consult a vet regarding the health and wellbeing of your ducks. That said, most people who keep ducks in rural areas have limited or no access to vets who will see avian patients. So it is best to have a plan in place to handle as many issues yourself as possible.
Jump to:
- What to Do for a Limping Duck
- Why Is My Duck Laying Soft Eggs?
- Why Is My Duck Not Laying Eggs?
- What to Do for an Egg-Bound Duck
- How to Treat a Prolapsed Vent
- Are My Duck’s Wings Normal?
- My Duck Is Wobbly and Unbalanced
- How to Prevent Duck Health Problems
What to Do for a Limping Duck
One of the most common questions I see on various duck forums and groups is, “Why is my duck limping? There are quite a few possibilities, and the first step in treating a duck with a leg or foot injury is to assess and diagnose the issue. The most common reasons a duck will limp are:
- She’s sprained or strained her leg.
- She has a cut or scrape on her foot.
- She has developed a type of infection commonly called “bumblefoot.”
- She has fractured her leg.
If you have thoroughly checked her leg and foot for signs of the issues above and can’t find anything, it is likely that she has mildly sprained something. If this is the case, give her some rest in a calm place – either in her coop with a small group or in a large dog crate. This will give her time and space to heal. Supervised swim time can also help her to rehabilitate a mild leg injury. More serious leg injuries may need to be splinted or wrapped, and the rehabilitation process may take several weeks.
In the case of a cut or bumblefoot, the wound needs to be cleaned and monitored daily. Apply an antibacterial agent like betadine to prevent infection, and talk to your vet about giving antibiotics if necessary. Epsom salt soaks can also help.
If her leg feels warm, looks very swollen, or shows signs of infection, your duck likely will need antibiotics to prevent further complications.
Why Is My Duck Laying Soft Eggs?
If you notice that your duck is laying eggs with soft shells that either break as they are being laid or very easily break in your hands when you apply light pressure, this is almost a sure sign of a calcium deficiency. Make sure you are feeding a high-quality feed and that none of your ducks are getting bullied out of meal time. I allow my ducks 24/7 access to food so they can eat as they please.
You can also supplement with crushed oyster shells to add extra calcium to their diets.
Why Is My Duck Not Laying Eggs?
Most breeds of ducks will slow down or completely stop laying eggs in late-fall and throughout the winter, starting back up again in spring. This is completely normal and to be expected. Some breeds that are not particularly known for high egg production might also slow down laying periodically during very hot weather or other harsh conditions. As long as they are otherwise healthy and there are no signs that the duck is egg-bound (see below), this is not a cause for concern.
What to Do for an Egg-Bound Duck
If your duck is not laying eggs because she is egg-bound – meaning an egg is stuck inside her reproductive tract – this can be a serious health concern if not resolved. Signs that your duck is egg-bound include:
- Lethargy
- Decreased or no appetite
- Keeping to herself
- Visible signs of distress
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Appearing as though she is straining to lay an egg
If your duck is egg-bound, you must be careful not to break the egg while it is still inside of her, as its contents could cause an internal infection. Some things you can try to help her pass the egg include:
- Soaking her in warm water with epsom salts for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
- Gently applying a lubricant such as olive or vegetable oil in and around the vent.
- Gently massaging her abdomen, being very careful not to break the egg.
- Giving calcium supplements or injections – talk to your vet about suitable injections.
- If the egg is visible and none of the above solutions are working, you can try to carefully poke a small hole in the egg with a small syringe, removing the contents of the egg, and then carefully breaking the shell and removing it. This is a last-resort solution, however, because it can increase the risk of infection and other complications.
How to Treat a Prolapsed Vent
Another egg-related problem that you might run into with your ducks is a prolapsed vent. This happens when the inner tissues of the vent, or cloaca, protrude outside of the body. This is typically caused by straining when laying eggs, constipation, or infections. A prolapsed vent can lead to serious health issues, including infection and tissue damage, and requires prompt attention to prevent complications.
You will be able to quickly tell if your duck has a prolapsed vent because you will see the pink tissue protruding from her backside. She may also isolate herself from the flock and could have difficulty walking or swimming.
Treatment and prognosis for a prolapsed vent largely depend on the severity of the condition. In most mild cases, you should be able to correct the issue and rehabilitate her yourself. In more severe instances, veterinary care might be necessary.
To try to fix a prolapsed vent on your own, you’ll need sterile gloves, an antibacterial spray like Vetericyn, and potentially Preparation H or another similar cream to help shrink the tissue. Follow these steps:
- Put the gloves on and secure the duck with one arm. I find that wrapping her in a towel helps to make her feel more secure and prevent her from flapping her wings while I’m trying to work.
- With your other hand, spray the prolapsed tissue with the antibacterial spray. This can double as a lubricant for the next step. You may also apply Preparation H to the external tissue before proceeding.
- Gently place pressure on the prolapsed tissue to try to push it back into her body. In my experience, it will feel difficult at first, but with continued gentle pressure, it will suddenly “pop” back in.
Once the tissue is back inside, you’re not out of the woods yet. It is very likely that it will come back out again in the coming hours or days. I recommend putting your duck in a large dog crate separated from the other ducks, though if you have the space, you can place the crate so that she can still see her friends. Try to limit her movement and limit exposure to light for the next several days to help slow her laying cycle.
You may have to repeat the process above several times during the healing process. In the meantime, supplement her with extra calcium to help her lay healthy eggs and prevent more issues in the future.
Are My Duck’s Wings Normal?
If you are raising ducklings for the first time, be prepared to experience a few “ugly duckling” stages of wing development along the way. Some weird-looking wings are totally normal as your duck grows or even molts. Other wing problems, on the other hand, can be medical issues.
Two times when your duck’s wings might look weird but are completely fine are when her blood feathers are first developing and when she molts once or twice a year. Blood feathers are encased in a keratin sheath and have a blood supply to nourish their growth. While they can look alarming, blood feathers are perfectly normal and will eventually mature into fully developed feathers.
Molting is another normal process where ducks shed old feathers to make way for new ones. During this period, ducks might look scruffy and lose a significant number of feathers. This is a natural cycle that occurs once or twice a year, and there’s no need for concern.
Two common instances when weird-looking wings could be a cause for concern are when “angel wing” or “wet feather” develops. Angel wing is a deformity where the last joint of the wing becomes twisted, causing the feathers to stick out laterally instead of lying flat against the body. This condition is typically caused by too much protein in the duck’s diet. Angel wing can often be corrected if caught early by adjusting the duck’s diet and sometimes using bandages to reposition the wing. While many ducks can live a normal life with uncorrected angel wing, it’s ideal to try to catch this condition early and reverse it while still possible.
Wet feather is another abnormal condition where a duck’s feathers lose their waterproofing ability, causing her to become waterlogged when in the water. This can be caused by poor diet, external parasites, or an infection in their uropygial gland, which produces oil that ducks use to preen themselves with. If your duck looks like she is soaked all the time or struggles to stay afloat in the water, she might have wet feather. Figuring out and addressing the underlying cause – whether it’s diet, parasites, or an infection – can help to remedy this issue.
My Duck Is Wobbly and Unbalanced
If your duck is wobbly and unbalanced, this could be a sign of a neurologic problem. Immediate care is crucial to diagnose and treat the issue accurately. One potential cause of these symptoms is botulism, a serious condition caused by ingesting toxins from contaminated water or food. Botulism can lead to paralysis and, if untreated, can be fatal.
In cases where veterinary care is not immediately accessible, administering a charcoal detox may help. Activated charcoal can bind to certain toxins in the digestive system, potentially reducing their impact. However, this is not a substitute for professional medical treatment and you should see veterinary care if at all possible.
Given the severity of botulism and other neurologic issues, seeking veterinary assistance as soon as possible is vital for the health and recovery of your duck.
How to Prevent Duck Health Problems
Sometimes, duck health problems are not entirely preventable. Expect unexpected issues to come up and be prepared with a first aid kit that contains essential items such as antiseptic, wound care supplies, activated charcoal, and vitamins. But there are lots of things you can do to help minimize the risk of health issues for your ducks, including:
- Maintain a clean coop and pond. Ducks need to have clean, fresh water deep enough to dunk their entire heads into so they can clean their bills and eyes. Keeping water and coops clean will minimize the risk of botulism, parasites, and infections.
- Provide high-quality feed. Nutritional deficiencies can cause a number of health problems for ducks, so make sure they have easy access to a high-quality feed, even if they are free-range.
- Regularly check on your ducks. Automatic doors and feeders make chores easier, but they can sometimes remove opportunities to visually inspect your ducks to catch any problems early.
Bottom Line
While ducks are hardy and easy to care for in general, there are a few common health problems that can arise, even in the most well-cared-for ducks. Being prepared ahead of time is half the battle, allowing you to respond quickly and calmly. And as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – taking preventative steps can really pay off in the long run by minimizing the risk of serious health complications and injuries.
