I'm so sorry about what's been going on with your ducks. Any of us who have been through an illness with our flock can relate to how "awful" it is. I'm glad they're doing better and it's good to hear your great attitude coming through!
I had a duck come down with what I'm now sure was botulism and thanks to your videos was able to facilitate a healthy recovery. I now know that dread you were talking about so I'm posting this for anyone who may deal with botulism in waterfowl since there is so little helpful information out there. (I think only two channels on all of youtube even features it). As far as I have researched medical treatment is only supportive and anti-toxins aren't developed specifically for ducks. DIAGNOSIS The first thing to understand is that botulism is caused by a neurotoxin, produced by a bacteria that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter. As you can imagine, waterfowl is particularly susceptible to this due to the fact they eat, drink, shit, live and die in water, usually dirty. The neurotoxin first attacks motor functions, then CNS/heart/lungs. It is not the only sickness that produces symptoms likened to drunkenness so it is important to understand both avian cholera (bird flu) and niacin deficiency. Bird flu can be vaccinated against, so when possible I recommend since it turns a three way problem into a binary problem. Niacin deficiency is also a neurodegenrerative disorder, but is not caused by anything other than a lack of niacin in ducks diet. It is most common in ducklings/chicks and very unusual in flocks fed some otc food since niacin is added. The condition rarely results in outright discordination to the extent of disabling the bird from eating/drinking and should not appear in otherwise healthy flocks. Birds with this condition will not improve when treated for botulism, their condition will not rapidly deteriorate either. Bird flu is a little trickier to distinguish from botulism and the symptoms are very similar; however a couple important differences can help. "Symptoms [of botulism] were carefully noted with respect to similarity to the syndrome of the avian bacterial diseases then prevalent. It was observed that to a certain degree avian cholera resembled duck sickness in that there was a general depression that might be mistaken for paralysis, a diarrhea, a pronounced thirst (prevalent in birds recovering from duck sickness), labored breathing, and, shortly before death, complete prostration. Discrepancies existed, however, in the above-normal temperature in avian cholera as against the uniformly subnormal temperature in duck sickness, and in the characteristic hemorrhagic areas present on the surface of the heart in avian cholera compared with the absence of the pronounced lesions in duck sickness. Furthermore, inability to transmit the disease by the means employed in the experimental work afforded added evidence against cholera as the cause. In fact it was the lack of infectiousness, the lowered body temperature, and absence of the characteristic post-mortem aspects of duck sickness that distinguished it from all other avian bacterial diseases generally known at the time." - Page 12. @t It seems there should be two ways to determine flu vs botulism. One is body temp, the other presence of lesions post mortem. Unfortunately none of the articles I read specified how to take the temp (though I can guess), or what normal/flu/botulism temps should be. Lastly, a stool sample can be lab tested by your vet but this will likely not be cost effective for meat birds. TREATMENT: The moment you see lethargic or stumbling bird(s), segregate them in a sanitary area. If you can afford a vet, have them test. Each bird sick with botulism must be given a strong epsom salt bath (1 cup/gallon) with a bit of food ~ 5x a day. The bath should last until the bird shits, then pull em out and dry them off. Placing them in a little tub should encourage them to instinctively eat/drink/preen and begin expelling the bacteria. I add in a couple regular baths without salt or food to ensure proper hydration, but always pull them out the moment they shit so as to avoid re-ingestion. Care should be given to where the dirty water is disposed of. Healthy birds need to immediately moved to a new location free of dead vegetation, immersive water sources emptied, sanitized and revised to non-immersive for a couple weeks. This treatment is labor intensive and may not be possible depending on the number of birds affected. It's also fair to say any duck/duckling under a couple pounds won't survive due the toxic load relative to their weight. Alternately when a sick bird is found, activated charcoal mixed in water can be force fed. This requires a little tube and pump and the patience to insert in every sick bird. Treatment is done once and only once. I've no experience, but this is more or less the same thing done to folks who've overdosed and in principle should from that moment forward, absolve the duck of additionally produced toxins, but same as epsom salt, cannot remove or revert toxins already absorbed. I'd like to think based on the effort involved this treatment should be reserved for ducks unable to eat/drink but again this can become an issue of impossibility depending on the size of your flock and number of birds affected.
This is very good advice. I think moving we here the ducks and geese pasture would be helpful, esp in the warmer months where bacteria and other pathogens can live and multiply in the ground. There is another UA-cam farmer by the Name of Dexter Ando on UA-cam. He keeps chicken and turkeys, but for his birds he gives a probiotic in their water, which he makes himself from mixing water, brown sugar and probiotic drinks such as Yakult/Vitagen. He farms in a completely different climate (Zamboanga City, in the Philippines,) so you’d need to ask him what temperature he keeps his probiotics mix at, so it continues to grow, but he is a very friendly guy and so willing to give advice and help. His videos are jam-packed with knowledge from his own experiences, so that others can benefit from it and become food-secure and profitable on their own little farms and homesteads.
SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE DUCKS ARE DOING BETTER AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING GLAD TO HEAR IT, THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US AND HAVE A GREAT AND BLESSED DAY :-)
Son, you are a human being. You care about creatures in your care, that you are responsible for... this likely won't be the last time you have a hard experience while farming. All you can do is show the life of those animals the respect of grieving their suffering and death, and respecting the lessons it teaches you, so that you become a better farmer and are more experienced and able to do better as time goes by.
I subbed after the ducks moved into the duck house and that's when I first heard, "RELEASE THE QUAKEN!" 'Lil Barn Cat... so surreal to see her comforting you while she's still high on meds. Singlehandedly, you were the inspiration for our duck lifestyle. When we choose to work with the natural world (gardening, homesteading or farming) Mother Nature will work with you. We may not understand that it is best that the strong survive and that's ok. We have to trust her. She knows what she's doing. It is possible that the ducklings which became ill did not have an immune system that could tolerate your ecosystem in Vermont. Did you ever consider testing your soil? Something to consider before bringing on cows🐮... or sheep🐑?
Dint givr up the idea of changing the grazing land so quick. U think bout they suffered now. But think forward to the futere when they r mature and healthier, i belueve they will make the task. It an important acticity both forvthe orchard, soil and ducks. To give up so fast. Also what r u planning to do with their fencing how will u fix it to prevent them from escaping. R u plannig to use the same fence or a new one? A notion is the shed doesnt habe yo move with them. Maybe only yhe fencing is enough in order to change the location. Im still waiting for the wetland to inhabit them
I’m going through videos to see if this is what’s happening to my ducks. 🥺 not sure if you will see this but I think this is it. What vitamin did you give?
My pekin duck has a Bacteria in his throat. On antibiotics, but it's been 3 weeks and no difference. I love my khacki campbell drake, cant fond any females though.
Don't use apple cider vinegar. If you want to give them a probiotic, go with a type designed for birds, but apple cider vinegar isn't for them. Vinegar will reduce the amount of calcium they can absorb. My source: The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens By Kathy Shea Mormino
he is a financial advisor. who has excellent camera control and drones, but cant spend time to look up how to care fir ducks who got an incredible common infection and decided he didnt want to use a vet. despite saying he has no idea waht he is doing.. Hello president Trump of ducks
Thank you for posting the good and the bad. I've loved seeing the good, but seeing the bad is important.
I'm so sorry about what's been going on with your ducks. Any of us who have been through an illness with our flock can relate to how "awful" it is. I'm glad they're doing better and it's good to hear your great attitude coming through!
I had a duck come down with what I'm now sure was botulism and thanks to your videos was able to facilitate a healthy recovery. I now know that dread you were talking about so I'm posting this for anyone who may deal with botulism in waterfowl since there is so little helpful information out there. (I think only two channels on all of youtube even features it). As far as I have researched medical treatment is only supportive and anti-toxins aren't developed specifically for ducks.
DIAGNOSIS
The first thing to understand is that botulism is caused by a neurotoxin, produced by a bacteria that feeds on decaying plant and animal matter. As you can imagine, waterfowl is particularly susceptible to this due to the fact they eat, drink, shit, live and die in water, usually dirty. The neurotoxin first attacks motor functions, then CNS/heart/lungs. It is not the only sickness that produces symptoms likened to drunkenness so it is important to understand both avian cholera (bird flu) and niacin deficiency. Bird flu can be vaccinated against, so when possible I recommend since it turns a three way problem into a binary problem.
Niacin deficiency is also a neurodegenrerative disorder, but is not caused by anything other than a lack of niacin in ducks diet. It is most common in ducklings/chicks and very unusual in flocks fed some otc food since niacin is added. The condition rarely results in outright discordination to the extent of disabling the bird from eating/drinking and should not appear in otherwise healthy flocks. Birds with this condition will not improve when treated for botulism, their condition will not rapidly deteriorate either.
Bird flu is a little trickier to distinguish from botulism and the symptoms are very similar; however a couple important differences can help. "Symptoms [of botulism] were carefully noted with respect to similarity to the syndrome of the avian bacterial diseases then prevalent. It was observed that to a certain degree avian cholera resembled duck sickness in that there was a general depression that might be mistaken for paralysis, a diarrhea, a pronounced thirst (prevalent in birds recovering from duck sickness), labored breathing, and, shortly before death, complete prostration. Discrepancies existed, however, in the above-normal temperature in avian cholera as against the uniformly subnormal temperature in duck sickness, and in the characteristic hemorrhagic areas present on the surface of the heart in avian cholera compared with the absence of the pronounced lesions in duck sickness. Furthermore, inability to transmit the disease by the means employed in the experimental work afforded added evidence against cholera as the cause. In fact it was the lack of infectiousness, the lowered body temperature, and absence of the characteristic post-mortem aspects of duck sickness that distinguished it from all other avian bacterial diseases generally known at the time." - Page 12. @t It seems there should be two ways to determine flu vs botulism. One is body temp, the other presence of lesions post mortem. Unfortunately none of the articles I read specified how to take the temp (though I can guess), or what normal/flu/botulism temps should be. Lastly, a stool sample can be lab tested by your vet but this will likely not be cost effective for meat birds.
TREATMENT:
The moment you see lethargic or stumbling bird(s), segregate them in a sanitary area. If you can afford a vet, have them test. Each bird sick with botulism must be given a strong epsom salt bath (1 cup/gallon) with a bit of food ~ 5x a day. The bath should last until the bird shits, then pull em out and dry them off. Placing them in a little tub should encourage them to instinctively eat/drink/preen and begin expelling the bacteria. I add in a couple regular baths without salt or food to ensure proper hydration, but always pull them out the moment they shit so as to avoid re-ingestion. Care should be given to where the dirty water is disposed of. Healthy birds need to immediately moved to a new location free of dead vegetation, immersive water sources emptied, sanitized and revised to non-immersive for a couple weeks. This treatment is labor intensive and may not be possible depending on the number of birds affected. It's also fair to say any duck/duckling under a couple pounds won't survive due the toxic load relative to their weight.
Alternately when a sick bird is found, activated charcoal mixed in water can be force fed. This requires a little tube and pump and the patience to insert in every sick bird. Treatment is done once and only once. I've no experience, but this is more or less the same thing done to folks who've overdosed and in principle should from that moment forward, absolve the duck of additionally produced toxins, but same as epsom salt, cannot remove or revert toxins already absorbed. I'd like to think based on the effort involved this treatment should be reserved for ducks unable to eat/drink but again this can become an issue of impossibility depending on the size of your flock and number of birds affected.
This is very good advice. I think moving we here the ducks and geese pasture would be helpful, esp in the warmer months where bacteria and other pathogens can live and multiply in the ground. There is another UA-cam farmer by the Name of Dexter Ando on UA-cam. He keeps chicken and turkeys, but for his birds he gives a probiotic in their water, which he makes himself from mixing water, brown sugar and probiotic drinks such as Yakult/Vitagen. He farms in a completely different climate (Zamboanga City, in the Philippines,) so you’d need to ask him what temperature he keeps his probiotics mix at, so it continues to grow, but he is a very friendly guy and so willing to give advice and help. His videos are jam-packed with knowledge from his own experiences, so that others can benefit from it and become food-secure and profitable on their own little farms and homesteads.
SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE DUCKS ARE DOING BETTER AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING GLAD TO HEAR IT, THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US AND HAVE A GREAT AND BLESSED DAY :-)
Glad the ducks are doing better.
Son, you are a human being. You care about creatures in your care, that you are responsible for... this likely won't be the last time you have a hard experience while farming. All you can do is show the life of those animals the respect of grieving their suffering and death, and respecting the lessons it teaches you, so that you become a better farmer and are more experienced and able to do better as time goes by.
I subbed after the ducks moved into the duck house and that's when I first heard, "RELEASE THE QUAKEN!" 'Lil Barn Cat... so surreal to see her comforting you while she's still high on meds.
Singlehandedly, you were the inspiration for our duck lifestyle. When we choose to work with the natural world (gardening, homesteading or farming) Mother Nature will work with you. We may not understand that it is best that the strong survive and that's ok. We have to trust her. She knows what she's doing. It is possible that the ducklings which became ill did not have an immune system that could tolerate your ecosystem in Vermont.
Did you ever consider testing your soil? Something to consider before bringing on cows🐮... or sheep🐑?
Dint givr up the idea of changing the grazing land so quick. U think bout they suffered now. But think forward to the futere when they r mature and healthier, i belueve they will make the task. It an important acticity both forvthe orchard, soil and ducks. To give up so fast. Also what r u planning to do with their fencing how will u fix it to prevent them from escaping. R u plannig to use the same fence or a new one? A notion is the shed doesnt habe yo move with them. Maybe only yhe fencing is enough in order to change the location. Im still waiting for the wetland to inhabit them
I’m going through videos to see if this is what’s happening to my ducks. 🥺 not sure if you will see this but I think this is it. What vitamin did you give?
What multi vitamin do you use
My pekin duck has a Bacteria in his throat. On antibiotics, but it's been 3 weeks and no difference. I love my khacki campbell drake, cant fond any females though.
how much apple cider vinegar did you give them per gallon?
About 2 oz.
Don't use apple cider vinegar. If you want to give them a probiotic, go with a type designed for birds, but apple cider vinegar isn't for them. Vinegar will reduce the amount of calcium they can absorb. My source: The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens By Kathy Shea Mormino
Garlic is a natural antibiotic, antiviral, antiparastic. Might consider putting crushed garlic in their water if this happens again.
could you used minced garlic
I'd caution using garlic, as it's known to be toxic for many animals.
sooo you couldnt google how to save them
he is a financial advisor. who has excellent camera control and drones, but cant spend time to look up how to care fir ducks who got an incredible common infection and decided he didnt want to use a vet. despite saying he has no idea waht he is doing.. Hello president Trump of ducks