The advice hub Diarrhoea in Ducks and Geese
Just as for chickens there are several possible causes of diarrhoea in waterfowl (coccidiosis, worms, viruses and bacteria). These agents damage the intestine wall and can cause reduced absorption of nutrients leading to weight loss and dehydration. Depending on the cause the diarrhoea may be contagious to other birds.
Poor quality feed or excessive/inappropriate treats can lead to diarrhoea.
Dirty drinking water can harbour lots of bacteria to cause diarrhoea. (Ducks like to dirty their water).
Note: Worms don’t usually cause diarrhoea but large burdens may upset the gut.
Ensure your geese have been wormed in the past three months with Flubendazole.
What to look out for
- Wet bedding
- Loose droppings
- Weight loss
- Dull hunched birds with ruffled feathers
- Pasted vents
Treatment
If you are concerned about the possibility of worms or coccidiosis being an underlying cause then you can use the Chicken Vet Faeces Sample Kit. Simply collect fresh droppings, place into the pot provided, complete the submission form and post to Chicken Vet. We will count the number of coccidial oocysts and worm eggs in the droppings to determine if your bird has coccidiosis and or worms.
If your bird looks reasonably bright and is eating and drinking it may be worth trying Biostop. Biostop contains tannins to help maintain and support intestinal upset. This product should be given for 5-7 days in drinking water and can also be given to healthy birds as it will improve the health of the digestive tract.
Note: Ducks in particular normally have access to ponds. If they are unwell it may be worth keeping them in for a few days to ensure they drink any medication prescribed by your vet.
Prevention
Try to keep wild waterfowl away if possible as they can carry diseases which can cause diarrhoea in domestic waterfowl.
Try to keep the pond water as fresh and clean as possible. We appreciate that this is not easy as ducks like to carry feed to the pond.
Always feed an appropriate waterfowl feed with minimal treats.
