WHATS WRONG WITH OUR INDIAN RUNNER??

[Anonymous]

Hello, i`m new to this forum so hello to you all, i really hope someone can give us some desperately needed advice to make our lovely little duck better! Basically she has bad eyes, it`s been like it for weeks now, her eyes keep foaming up with white gunk covering one eye totally and the other partially.
Her eyes also look sore and dry around them, and also, i`m not sure if it`s connected but she has a bald patch on the back of her head and it appears bloody.
The poor little thing keeps walking into things and she`s clearly distressed, we`ve tried seperating her from our 3 chickens and 3 aylesbury ducks, who all live together in a large pen. We`ve also given her eye drops with no real results, she is getting very bad now!
If anyone has any information my girlfriend and i would be hugely appreciative, we can`t take seeing her like this!! Many thanks James & Becky

 

[Davidd]

Hello, the bald patch is probably the other drakes/ducks mating her-no conection to her eyes - as for her eyes- do they have access to water deep enough to cover their faces? Ducks and geese need to be able to submerge their heads-to wash their eyes- you could try a kids plastic sand pit or paddling pool- just tip it out everyday and refeil with fresh water.
Sometimes draughts/very windy conditions can make the eyes sore/foam a little but it may be worth taking her to a vet if it doesn't improve with plenty of fresh , clean water
regards, David

 

[Tim]

Yes, I agree with the above - keep her separated from the other ducks because my guess is there are one or more drakes mounting her (they hold on to the feathers behind the head).

As for the eye problem - it sounds pretty far gone now - so I would take her to a poultry vet. They will probably give antibiotics to clear up the infection. Again, as above, she needs clean water to dip her head into - ducks have no tear ducts and have to wet the eyes in water. If she is quarantined, even a watering can works for Runners.

Final point - make sure she has been wormed. Worms can cause so many problems as well as secondary problems when she is weakened.