Our one year old female pekin duck had a horrible seizure last night. It started as panting then her legs went stiff. She lay there with her legs stretched out behind her. She was panting like a dog out of breath on a hot day!She could not drink. Her whole body was very rigid but she still was holding her head up. She did not seem responsive to anything around her.This whole episode lasted for three hours then slowly she came out of it. We have noticed milder spasims lately that started when she began to lay eggs about a week and a half ago. Sort of looked like she was having mild abdominal contractions with slight panting.She layed 12 eggs in a row but none last night.Today she is kind of petered out but she will drink and did eat a few bites of food. But she is not herself.What do you all think?

-- J.B. (JBakerBosco@cs.com), April 12, 2002

Answers

I would want more info. I am wondering if she could be egg bound? What is her diet? If you suspect she is egg bound a warm water bath might help, and sometimes mineral oil, but I don't think this is the problem. Going back to diet what are you feeding her? Ducks need more Niacin than chickens and do not do well(and often die) on chicken food. I would post your question with the experts on www.poultryconnection.com, General Waterfowl Forum. There is also a LINK there to a poultry Vet. Good luck, this sounds very scary! LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 12, 2002.

soup

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 12, 2002.

Sorry to hear about this. I once had a goose that acted like that and didn't survive after the first seizure. it was caused because my neighbor put out rat poison, the goose got the poisoned rat, and died. I have lost several and the seizures always happen only after she puts out rat poison. I don't know if this might be the problem or not. Your duck may have gotten a smaller portion than my goose or it may have been some other kind of poison. Lye from wood ashes, cyanide from apple seed, there are lots of things. Have you checked for snake bite. Hope she pulls through all right. Robin

-- Robin Downing (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

Not soup Stan, Orange Sauce. emory

-- Emory (NE PA) (et@hazleton.net), April 12, 2002.