14 Common Duck Diseases and How to Prevent Them

Common duck diseases can cause severe harm to your ducks. In fact, in some cases, your ducks might die. They do not show any signs of illness or abnormalities. What are the reasons? What else can ducks go through if they’re ill? Alright, let’s not make things too complicated. We will have our answers simultaneously.

What are some common duck diseases? Amongst so many known and unknown avian illnesses, these are some of the common diseases, according to me: 

1. Hepatitis
2. Plague
3. Infection
4. Aspergillosis
5. Poisoning
6. Botulism
7. Arthritis
8. Avian influenza virus
9. Cholera
10. Colibacillosis
11. Salmonella
12. Bumblefoot
13. Wry neck
14. Prolapsed Vent

Some of the diseases are deadly here, while others can have remedies. Always be careful about the proper treatment for them. However, to have a broader view of duck disease, why those things occur, and what the remedies are, keep on reading. I hope I’ll be able to give you a comprehensive overview of the whole shebang!

14 Common Duck Disease, Symptoms, and Remedies Analysis

I won’t make the discussion longer. Let’s get into the key points now. 

1. Hepatitis (Verdict: Deadly)

There’s a virus that is behind this illness called duck hepatitis virus. It may spread through contaminated water, food consumption, or even being in a dirty cage.  It mainly causes liver trouble, said a group of researchers from the Agricultural University of Bangladesh while studying a case on the Hepatitis outbreak in Gazipur, Bangladesh.

If they’re having hepatitis troubles, they may show some non-specific signs as follows: 

• Lack of interest in eating
• Obesity
• Swallen heads or necks
• Breathing difficulties
• Bleed inside

In severe circumstances, your domestic ducks might die. So, this is such a serious thing to consider. Who’s at risk of having a hepatitis attack? It’s the baby ducks, as they’re more prone to certain illnesses due to premature immune systems. 

Ducklings that are aged up to 4 weeks can suffer from hepatitis the most – Claims the veterinary medicine department of Cornel University.

Treatment And Preventative Measures

No specific treatments are available for hepatitis attacks on ducks. In that case, the only thing to do is to contact a vet and act according to the suggestion. They may diagnose tests and suggest backyard poultry medicine or vaccination if required.

Vaccination and biosecurity are the best things here to prevent hepatitis, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Recommended Readings:

• How To Save A Dying Baby Duck
• Niacin Deficiency In Ducks

Here’s a well-explained video featuring the clinical signs of hepatitis in ducks:

2. Plague (Verdict: Deadly)

Plague is a deadly infectious disease for ducks, known to be caused by Anatid alphaherpesvirus 1 (AnHV-1). A herpes virus causes it. Both the backyard and the wild waterfowl can suffer from the plague.

This virus has a significant risk factor – it can spread from one duck to another. It can happen when the infected birds come into physical contact with another duck. Therefore, you’re in a mess if you have some ducks on a farming setup. There is no age specification for this disease either, as both the adult and baby ducks can have the plague.

The symptoms as follows can be shown by affected ducks:

• Decreased egg production
• Diarrhea
• Lack of interest

Anyway, here’s an alarming fact that makes plague a bigger threat. If your ducks recover from the plague, they can still carry the virus and may spread it!

Recommended Read: When Do Ducks Stop Laying Eggs

Treatment And Preventative Measures

No specific treatment. Contacting a vet is wise if you notice the symptoms above. But the same case here is that preventative measures must be followed. Some vaccines are made from a weak virus, which eventually helps ducks to improve their immune system. So, make sure your ducks are vaccinated. 

Here’s a video explaining duck plug and how to prevent it:

3. Infection (Verdict: Deadly)

Anatipestifer infection is also called Pasteurella anatipestifer infection. Ducks are affected by this infection by affected ducks. This bacterial infection has a high death ratio and can cause sudden death to your ducks!

When combined with viruses like reovirus, circovirus, and mycoplasmas, the severity of bacterial diseases can escalate due to their combined effects. 

This interplay might make the time for symptoms to show longer. Or, to be precise, nine weeks of age! Even after this time, ducks can carry illnesses that trigger immune responses without any clinical signs.

Your ducks may show these specific symptoms if they’re going through Pasteurella bacterial infection. 

• Tiredness 
• Eye discharge, 
• Diarrhea.
• Shaking their heads and necks.

Research in Budapest claims that it can infect air sacs and heart and liver membranes. Consider brain inflammation in the list of damage as well.

Recommended Articles:

• How To Treat Duck Eye Infection
• Treatment For Foamy Eyes In Ducks

Treatment And Preventative Measures

Some medicine is suggested by vets, such as penicillin, enrofloxacin, and sulfadimethoxine-ormetoprim in feed. Doing this for a couple of days may reduce the possibility of death. 

However, vaccination is the ultimate prevention for this bacterial infection as well. 

4. Aspergillosis (Verdict: Deadly)

It’s a severe repository disease in ducks. If your ducklings are stressed, they may be attacked by aspergillosis. This disease happens when ducks breathe in tiny spores from a mold called Aspergillus, especially the type called Aspergillus fumigatus.

Backyard birds may suffer from this disease by breathing in tiny fungal spores around them, for instance, in unclean bedding. The sickness can arrive in two types: 

• One hits lots of wild birds hard. It is called acute epizootics of aspergillosis.
• The other bothers domestic ducks with weak immune systems from different sicknesses. This is called chronic infection (chronic aspergillosis)

Things in their environment can make them more likely to get sick, too. However, they may show the following symptoms if they have this disease: 

• Coughing
• Breathing difficulties
• Weight loss
• Fatigue

In Malaysia, an entire flock (Muscovy ducks) had gone through an aspergillosis outbreak. The post-mortem report confirmed that the dead ducks had dyspneic, ruffled, wet feathers, and cyanotic reactions in their liver.

You can also check the article “Why Is My Duck Losing Feathers.” It can be another reason behind their sickness due to diseases.

Treatment And Preventative Measures

When ducks have aspergillosis, several can get sick since they live together. Aspergillosis treatment requires using antifungal medicine for a long time, usually at least eight weeks of age.

The following preventative measures will be handy in this case: 

• Keep their living area clean and dry.
• Use clean bedding materials.
• Control stress factors.
• Maintain good hygiene practices.

5. Poisoning (Verdict: Deadly)

Poisoning in ducks can occur due to molds like aflatoxins. Poisoning in ducks can occur due to toxins from molds, like aflatoxins, found on grains and oilseeds. In general, these molds are found on grains and oilseeds.

Ducks are very sensitive to these toxins. Even tiny amounts can lead to high death rates. Wet harvest conditions promote mold growth.

Various health issues may arise if your ducks get poisoned by these molds, such as

• Digestive Problems
• Organ Damage
• Immune Suppression

Poisoning in ducks is highly fatal. The signs of poisoning in ducks are as follows: 

• Lethargy and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Yellowing of skin and eyes
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory distress

Recommended Readings:

• Why Is My Duck Panting
• Reasons Of Duck Drooling

Treatment And Preventative Measures

Treatment for poisoning isn’t specific. It is challenging to determine as well. So, my suggestion is to contact a vet as early as possible. 

To prevent such a disease, taking the following steps might be helpful. 

• Keep an eye on storing conditions—store grains and seeds in dry conditions to prevent mold growth.
• Check feed for signs of mold and discard contaminated batches.
• Offer balanced, uncontaminated feeds to ensure proper nutrition.
• Ensure the mental well-being of your ducks. Taking too much stress will make their immune system vulnerable.

6. Botulism (Verdict: Extremely Deadly)

Captive waterfowl can get sick from botulism when they eat toxins from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This happens if they’re near stagnant ponds or places with rotting things like dead animals.

A question might arise now. Wild waterfowl can eat moldy fruits and bread. Do they get sick? If they aren’t, how do ducks suffer from botulism? The thing is, ducks can eat the bad stuff. But only when the bacteria grow in the right conditions.

Botulism makes their necks, legs, and wings weak and limp. It’s severe, and they might die in 1-2 days. Whether the duck is a baby or an adult, both can be affected by botulism. 

Here are the prime symptoms of this disease: 

• Ducks become weak and can’t move well.
• Their neck, legs, and wings get floppy.
• They might die while sleeping.

Related Reads:

• Why Is My Duck Limping
• How To Fix A Broken Duck Leg

To know more about botulism symptoms in ducks, watch this video:

Treatment And Preventative Measures

If you see the signs, ensure your ducks stay away from disagreeable water with bad stuff. Doing this can stop them from getting more sick. Now, ask a vet for help. Vets know what to do and can make ducks feel better.

Preventative measures for this disease are as follows:

• Keep their living areas clean.
• Don’t let them near stagnant water or dead animals.
• Check for signs of botulism and remove sick ducks.

7. Arthritis (Verdict: Deadly)

First, we have to know what Arthritis is. It is a joint disease and a condition that is caused by inflammation of the joints. It results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

While Arthritis is more typically associated with older ducks, it can affect ducks of any age. Here are the factors that can cause Arthritis.

• Regardless of age, Arthritis can happen at any age of ducks. However, older ducks might be more prone to Arthritis because they might build wear and tear on their joints over time.
• Do consider joint injuries as the risk factors as well. Such as fractures or dislocations can contribute to developing Arthritis.
• An overweighted or obese duck may experience increased joint stress, eventually leading to Arthritis.
• Infections created by bacteria can sometimes cause joint inflammation and Arthritis in ducks.

These are the potential symptoms that may tell that your ducks might have arthritis. 

• Ducks may walk with one keg in favor of the other one. 
• They may struggle to swim and move. 
• Not stable in standing 
• The joints may look puffy or bigger than usual. That’s a key sign of inflammation.
• Lack of interest
• Sometimes, they may show some signs of pain, such as weird vocalization.

Treatment And Preventative Measures

The treatment may vary depending on a lot of things. In general, managing pains should be the prime concern. Vets may suggest some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, such as Meloxicam and Carprofen, that will help heal the joint pains of ducks. 

Anyway, these things aren’t specific. So, you must have to contact a vet who’ll prescribe what to do for your recovery. 

What should be the preventative measures? The following steps might be taken to ensure the prevention of arthritis. 

• Provide them with a balanced diet. No excessive carbohydrates and sugar have to be ensured. So they won’t be overweight and obese.
• Do not let them forage in contaminated water and eat molded fruits and all that. 
• Keep on looking for any sign of abnormality in their behavior.

Recommended Reads:

• How Do You Know If A Duck Is In Pain
• How To Treat A Duck Wound

8. Avian Influenza (Verdict: Harmful)

Avian influenza is also known as the bird flu. Although maximum bird flu isn’t fatal for avian species, some can still be deadly, at least potentially. For instance, H5N1 virus. This virus can infect humans as well.

For ducks, the case is very usual. They can easily be infected by bird flu. They can carry it and can spread it everywhere they go. So, you have to be aware if one of your ducks carries the virus.  This flu can move through the air and by physical contact. 

If I talk about the age factor, both young and adult ducks can be infected by this. But usually, young ducklings are supposed to be at bigger risk. 

Let me tell you the potential symptoms that may arise if your ducks are suffering from avian influenza. 

• They might be weak and tired
• Difficulties in breathing
• Show signs of being sick, such as weird noise or lack of interest.

Treatment And Preventative Measures

The American government has provided guidance for health professionals where they are suggested to use antiviral drugs to resolve the bird flu problem. 

In this case, feeding antibiotics as per recommendation might be handy. Plus, providing them with proper nutrition will also benefit them. Separate individual birds and give them a recovery environment.

To stop bird flue, these are the preventative measures: 

• Vaccinate your birds to protect them from severe infection in the future. 
• Keep the ducks that are sick away from the other ducks immediately. 
• Do not forget to wash your hands when touching the affected bird. Otherwise, the virus might return through you.

Here’s a short video on avian influenza that might help you:

9. Cholera (Verdict: Harmful)

Among waterfowl, cholera is a very common disease. A bacteria called Pasteurella multocida caused it. This bacteria lives in wetlands, which are ducks’ favorite places to forage and roam.  Contaminated water or food cause this. So, you shouldn’t just let them eat molded fruits, bread, or water from anywhere.

The water may have harmful algae or compounds that are chemically bad for your ducks. 

The symptoms are as follows in this case: 

• Your ducks may get lethargic. 
• They won’t crave food, which is unnatural for them. 
• Messy feathers also belong to the list of cholera symptoms
• Breathing troubles 
• Lungs can get infected as well.

Treatment And Preventative Measures

To fight bacteria, tetracycline can be a great medicine. Give your ducks a shot in their muscle. The same medicine can also be mixed into their drinking water. Doing this will surely help them recover fast. Merck’s manual also suggests some other mixtures that can be helpful. Anyway, at the end of the day, vet consultation is required. 

Following this procedure, it may take one week to heal your waterfowl species. However, the virus can still be in their body. So, separating susceptible birds from the others is wise to avoid mass trouble once a duck gets sick. 

Keeping your ducks clean and dry and giving them healthy foods such as lettuce, peach, or other veggies and herbs can be an excellent preventative measure. 

10. Colibacillosis (Verdict: Harmful)

A common contagious disease in ducks. The virus that causes this sickness is called Escherichia coli (E.coli).

Ducks can contact this bacteria in many ways, such as from an affected bird or the air. Various issues may arise for this bacterial attack in ducks. Duck egg hatching might be reduced, and yolk sac infections might be seen. Young ducks (15 – 50 days of age) are more prone to suffer from colibacillosis.

The symptoms are as follows: 

• They won’t hatch eggs as per their average ability.
• Blood infection
• Ducks can get inflammation in certain body parts. It can be any part of the body. 

Treatment And Preventative Measures

The treatment may vary depending on the health condition, age, and other things. Initially, separating the ill duck from the other ducks is a wise move and keeps them in a supportive care environment. Now, contact a vet, as the treatment isn’t particular. 

Prevention is a good strategy here. You have to keep things clean and well-managed to prevent disease. In addition, you have to make sure your ducks aren’t stressed for any reason. Because when they’re stressed, their immunity gets weaker.

11. Salmonella ( Verdict: Harmful)

Just like humans, ducks can get the germ of salmonella. Ducks can get in touch with this bacteria in a variety of ways. Salmonella is one of the viral diseases for ducks throughout the world. Have a look at the ways below:

• Contaminated food or water
• Meeting infected birds
• Stressed out because of inadequate living space

So, what are the symptoms of Salmonella? The clinical signs might be as follows: 

• They might have watery or bloody poop.
• They might be lethargic.
• Due to improper food ingestion, they might lose weight. 
• Reduced duck egg production 
• Coughing or sneezing
• They might show signs of extreme thirst.

Related Read: How To Identify Unhealthy Duck Poop Color

Treatments and Preventative Measures

The first thing you’ve to do is keep the affected ducks away as quickly as possible. Experienced duck owners often suggest giving them supportive care. Provide them with a clean, warm intensive care unit with easy food and fresh water access.

Now, call a vet. They will diagnose the problem and prescribe some antibiotics for them to recover. 

To prevent this from occurring to your pet ducks, you have to be super careful about the cleanliness of your ducks and their living area. Do not let your domestic flocks join the party of the previous group. Be extra careful of ensuring hygiene for them.

Recommended Readings:

• Duck Egg Binding
• Salmonella In Ducks
• Diseases You Get From Ducks

12. Bumbefoot

Bumblefoot is a footpad problem for both backyard ducks and wild ducks. Here’s a simple scoop of it. 

When a duck’s foot is infected by a germ called Staphylococcus, it is called bumblefoot. The footpad might swell up, turn red, and get hurt if the germ attacks them.

In some cases, the infection might get worse. For instance, in severe circumstances of bumblefoot in ducks, the bones and joints midget harm, too. It can happen to both wild birds and pet ducks. 

Treatments and Preventative Measures

To help a duck with bumblefoot, contact a vet immediately. Vets might use antibiotics (that’s medicine to fight the germ) and pain relief to make them feel better. But sometimes, if it’s really, really bad, the duck might need surgery.

To prevent such problems from happening to your ducks, the following measures might be taken: 

• Keep their home clean and dry.
• Give them soft ground to walk on.
• Check their feet for problems.
• Feed them healthy food.
• Let them move and swim.
• Don’t overcrowd them.
• Trim their nails.

13. Wry Neck

Ducks can have wry neck issues if they do not have sufficient vitamins in their diet, especially vitamin E and selenium. All these vitamins basically help keep their neck muscles working right.

The fundamental signs of a wry neck are given below: 

• The duck’s neck looks bent or twisted to one side.
• They might face difficulties in walking.
• They might not stand steady and often lose balance. 
• Lack of interest in eating. 

Treatments and Preventative Measures

To help your ducks stay healthy and avoid wry necks, make sure they get plenty of vitamin E and selenium in their food. You can do this by giving them supplements as drops or mixing them into their meals. It’s also a good idea to offer them easy-to-eat soft foods like mashed peas, suggests experienced duck owners.

Keep them warm and clean after separating them from each other, and keep patience. They’ll be feeling good in a couple of days, hopefully. 

To prevent this problem from happening to your ducks, you have to ensure three things. These are a good and balanced diet, fresh water, and adequate space for them so that they won’t be stressed. 

Related Articles:

• Fixing Wry Necks in Ducks
• Do Ducks Get Stressed

14. Prolapsed Vent

A prolapsed vent is a health issue that can affect ducks and other birds. This condition happens when the rectum or cloaca. In case you don’t know what it is – it’s the transition from the waste and eggs to become out.

If the cloaca gets pushed out of the bird’s body, they’ll be suffering from a prolapsed vent. It often occurs when the bird strains too hard.

The symptoms of this problem are as follows:

1. Visible Prolapse: You can see the rectum or cloaca sticking out of the bird’s body. It might look swollen and red.
2. Discomfort: The bird will likely be in pain and distress because of this condition.
3. Straining: It might strain while trying to lay eggs, poop, or suffer from diarrhea.

Treatment and Preventative Measures

If you see they’re showing symptoms of prolapsed vent, you can try it yourself if you’re experienced. In this case, the prolapsed organ can be gently pushed back into place. 

Experienced duck raisers suggest using petroleum jelly to recover the problem and keep it tighten with the body. In addition, applying honey and witch hazel can resolve the problem.

However, if the prolapse is severe or keeps happening, a veterinarian may need to perform surgery to fix the problem.

Here are what to do to prevent this problem from happening with your ducks. 

• Give your birds the right kind of food to stop them from getting blocked up or having tummy trouble. 
• Make sure your birds always have clean water. It stops them from having stomach problems.
• Keep the place where your birds live neat and dry. This stops them from getting sick.
• Take your birds for regular check-ups with a bird-savvy vet. They can catch and fix problems early.

However, ducks can have some other diseases as well. They’re not common in them so I am just listing them separately.

• Ducks Marek’s Disease
• Angel Wings In Ducks
• Can Ducks Have Seizures
• Reasons Behind Pale Beak In Duck

6 Steps on How to Make a Biosecure System For Ducks

Actually, the question should be like this. What is the universal approach to prevent poultry duck disease? The answer is a biosecurity system. The biosecurity system will keep your duck farms safe, and the ducks will be stress-free and healthy.  

The steps below will define how you should make a biosecurity system for your ducks: 

• Step 1: New Ducks Should be Isolated from the existing ducks for at least two weeks. 
• Step 2: Do not allow any visitors to their living place. They may carry dirt, viruses, bacteria, or clothes in their shoes. Instead, if you have to allow, maintain specific wearing such as shoes and clothes, musks, etc. 
• Step 3:  Regularly clean and disinfect waterers, feeders, and the duck living place. Use disinfectants that are effective against avian pathogens. 
• Step 4: If you keep them out of the house or let them forage, keep them separated for at least two weeks. Basically, if you have commercial ducks, you have to make sure the safety of your ducks first. 
• Step 5: That is a crucial step. You have to keep their feed in a pest- or rodent-free container because these things can carry disease, pathogens, and all that.
• Step 6: This is the most important and critical step. Keep your ducks vaccinated to keep them safe from a common disease of ducks. Consult with a vet for this. They will suggest attenuated vaccines available for the duck species you’re raising. 

Some other additional things might do well in making a biosecurity system. For instance, keep their living environment dry and clean. However, you may follow the biosecurity manual provided by Australian researchers.

Bottom Line

Maximum infections occur due to bacteria and viruses. Some are caused by improper environment and when they’re stressed. Cholera, botulism, arthritis, and avian influenza are some of them that are harmful. Poisoning, infection, and plague are deadly, on the other hand.

Treatments aren’t specific either for duck diseases. So, it’s always a good idea to know your approach and act according to this. Safety should be the utmost priority if you have commercial ducks to avoid economic losses. A biosecurity system can be a brilliant preventative measure in that consideration. 

However, my general advice is to keep the environment clean and dry, ensure proper nutrition, and do not hesitate to contact us if your ducks show abnormal behaviors. And any symptoms of being ill.