Help for Ducks with botulism

BunnyStyles

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 16, 2014
416
16
88
Hey guys, my duckling had recently gotten all the symptoms for botulism, and now she is getting better. I've decided to help those who have ducks with botulism.

Botulism paralyses the ducks, it starts with the legs, then the wings, then the head which then it will get its breathing and stop its lungs. Causing the duck to not be able to move its head and its body. When you find your duck not able to move and can't hold it's head up, grab it and take it into your house. When I found my duckling Meredith not able to hold her head up much, I was so terrified that I would lose her, so what I did was. I held her head up on a bottle full of water, a pillow and tape roll on either of her sides, so if she tried moving her head, her head would land on the other things instead of going down.

WATER:
The next thing you want to do is get a plastic syringe, fill it up with water and give it to your duck. When you are giving it to them, hold the top of their beak, their mouth should open up, then place the end of the syringe in your ducks mouth and press down on the syringe making the water go into it's mouth, only give your duck a little bit, wait for your duck to swallow then give them some more till you think they've had enough.

FAN:
If you live in a hot place,please put a fan on your duckling, on either low or medium. Even if you live in a sorta cold place, if your room is hot, please put a fan on your duck.

CHARCOAL SLURRY:
The next thing you want to do is go to the pet store or where ever and get Charcoal powder or even Charcoal caps. When you go that, go home then put the powder in a bowl of water. (if you have charcoal caps, cut the cap to get the powder) you only need half a teaspoon or a full teaspoon of Charcoal powder, now you stir the water around before putting it in the plastic syringe, and giving it to your duckling. Again give her a little bit. This is called Charcoal Slurry. it helps gets rid of the toxins and everything else bad inside of your duck. This will make your duck very dehydrated so keep giving her some water every 10-15 mins. Another thing, when you are giving them water,grab some tissues and dap inside her nose, as water will get inside there.

Here is the link to the flushes of Charcoal Slurry. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700526/flushes-for-aiding-in-toxin-removal#post_9508213

Keep checking on them every 30 mins or so, also do not keep water near them, keep it up in a high place after you've let your duck have some water.

FOOD:
Your duck will not be able to eat for the first day, so get your plastic syringe, prefer one that has a big opening. Get your feed, crush it up then put it in the syringe before putting water in. After you've done that, shake the syringe, then give it to your duckling. Do the food this way so its able to get down your duck's throat. Also if you have garlic paste put that in a cup of water, mix it then get a syringe and fill it up then give it to your duck, only give your duck garlic water about 3 times, one time per day. DO NOT GIVE GARLIC AFTER CHARCOAL SLURRY, DO IT 1 HR BEFORE.

BREATHING:
This is the most important one. If any of your ducks have botulism, its the breathing that you will need to be more focused on, then any of the others. Botulism does stop the respiratory system. Keep track on your duck's breathing in the first two days. Make sure your duck is not breathing really heavily. i dont have much information on this subject,just one advice, keep track of your ducks breathing.

Eyes:
My duck went into a coma like state, but she could still lift her head up a bit when i came into the room, her eyes were just closed. My sister moved her eyelids and alot of water and pus like substances came out. If this happens get a cloth of warm water and wipe her eyes, this will help her keep her eyelids open.

POOP:
Make sure your duckling is pooping

OTHER DUCKS:
If you have other ducks or ducklings, bring a duckling in and show her to your sick duck, dont put the duck/duckling too close. Showing your sick duck another duck, will give it strength to survive, it happened with Meredith, as soon as she saw the baby duckling (the one she looks after) her eyes got wide and she has been determined to get better since then.

REST:
Leave your duck to rest for a while, do not keep going into your room unless its necessary and involves the duck like giving her water. She will need her rest.

OTHER INFO:
Day two is the day that will make your nervous the most, botulism kills most ducks on day two so looking out for her breathing and giving her more charcoal slurry and water is most needed on this day.

Day three is the recover day, if your duckling has survived till day three they will most likely try and start recovering now, but that doesnt mean the toxin is over. Still look out for your duck and their breathing.

Keep in mind that even though they have survived past day two, it doesnt mean the toxin is out, so just keep doing the normal routine for your duck, charcoal slurry -> water - > food in water.

by day four your duck will most likely make sounds again, only little sounds, your duck wont do it all the time only at certain times. and they will be looking for food and water, they will be trying to hold up their heads to get the food. On day 4 you can give your duck food without it being in a plastic syringe, just crush it up.

TALK TO YOUR DUCK ENCOURAGE YOUR DUCK LIKE "Good girl (or boy) keep going, I know you can do this"

Keep your duck inside until they're fully recovered.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
If your duck has not made any improvements on the second day, there is a chance they may not make it, but dont give up, they still might okay. Botulism is commonly found in soil, rotting vegetables, food, or carcases. So please be aware of all of those, and eliminate any possible things that you think could've caused this because if you dont, your other ducks or chickens or any other animal may get sick.

_________________________________________________

Sorry if I havent put enough infomation in this. I did these steps with Meredith and she is still doing better, she has started to walk today and is very noisey now see.

I hope this helps you guys

Meredith when she couldnt hold her head up:







Last Night:


 
Last edited:

Amykins

Crowing
6 Years
May 11, 2013
4,771
483
276
I don't wish that kind of thing on anyone, let alone a cute little duckie. Oh, the poor thing...I hope she continues to improve. You're one quick-thinking duck mama!
 

BunnyStyles

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 16, 2014
416
16
88
I don't wish that kind of thing on anyone, let alone a cute little duckie. Oh, the poor thing...I hope she continues to improve. You're one quick-thinking duck mama!
she is now in a box bc too much crap on my bedroom floor, just cleaned it all and she is starting to walk really fast haha it's really funny
 

BunnyStyles

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 16, 2014
416
16
88
I don't wish that kind of thing on anyone, let alone a cute little duckie. Oh, the poor thing...I hope she continues to improve. You're one quick-thinking duck mama!


See

700
 

BunnyStyles

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 16, 2014
416
16
88
One thing still bothers me, though...How did she contract it in the first place?
i actually have no idea, okay i just found the site for it, and it says the bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) can come from the soil and rotting vegetables (which we have never given any vegetable to the ducks) and this yard we have looked really bad when we got it, so im guessing the food got spilled over onto the ground and she ate it from the ground i dont know, but i will be making sure everyone else is doing fine and isnt eating anything of the ground. And she has been getting out of the box i had to put her in haahah
 
Last edited:

Amykins

Crowing
6 Years
May 11, 2013
4,771
483
276
The thing is, it's an anaerobic bacteria - meaning it can only thrive in low-oxygen environments. That's why it's so important to clean everything thoroughly with water and never let anything stagnate. I'm not sure where it could have come from, but if you don't find the source it may come back. :/
 

BunnyStyles

Chirping
5 Years
Aug 16, 2014
416
16
88
The thing is, it's an anaerobic bacteria - meaning it can only thrive in low-oxygen environments. That's why it's so important to clean everything thoroughly with water and never let anything stagnate. I'm not sure where it could have come from, but if you don't find the source it may come back. :/
im looking for the source now, maddy just informed me that we had a poison tree aswell which i had no knowledge about, anyways im looking for the source now
 

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