The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Kitchen Cottage on May 12, 2014, 07:38:06 am

Title: Sudden Death of Mandarin Drake
Post by: Kitchen Cottage on May 12, 2014, 07:38:06 am

Bought as part of a pair 2 weeks ago. 10am... happily swimming in the pond.  11am found dying in the coop.

There was food in its mouth, could it have choked?  NO signs of injury at all and the duck seems fine....  >:(

Title: Re: Sudden Death of Mandarin Drake
Post by: Floyd on May 12, 2014, 08:56:13 am

Have you checked for Herpes called Duck Plague (DVE).  This can cause sudden death. It wiped out my flock after introducing an infected auction purchase.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/51/duck-virus-enteritis-duck-plague (http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/51/duck-virus-enteritis-duck-plague)

Hope it isnt, sometimes animals do just die.  Good luck

Title: Re: Sudden Death of Mandarin Drake
Post by: doganjo on May 12, 2014, 08:59:55 am

so sorry  :'(   I had one that had a stroke but a few hours prior to it's death it was wobbly.  I have heard of heart attacks in ducks too.

Either way, 2 weeks is very short - speak to the seller.

Title: Re: Sudden Death of Mandarin Drake
Post by: plumseverywhere on May 12, 2014, 09:08:52 am

With male poultry, especially this time of year, I always question whether sudden death is due to (ahem) over exertion (on the job)  we've lost cockerels due to their busybonking.  Hope you get an answer though, it would be useful to know for future.