closed eye in duck

I have just got home to find my Aylesbury duck with one eye closed she seems very well in her self I have just tried as well as I could to bathe it with salt and water. Should I do more?

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If your duck seems happy in herself, then it is most probably just an eye infection caused from some irritation.

Common causes of eye problems in ducks are either due to a slight scratch to the eye from vegetation or from the bedding, or even a build up of ammonia from being locked up in their enclosures without access to clean air.

You will also find that ducks develop regular eye problems if they have a diet low in Vitamin A. By giving them a teaspoon each of Cod Liver Oil mixed in with their food 3-4 times a week, this problem goes away.

Remember too that all ducks need access to water deep enough to allow them to submerge their whole head into the water. This is very important to all duck breeds, and blindness can follow if they do not have water deep enough for them to do this.

The fact that you are bathing her eye with salt water is good. Make sure it is not too strong. You need a teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water. You can also use cold tea on the eye instead of a saline solution.

However, keep an eye on it, as you might have to get an antibiotic eye cream to rub into the eye if it gets worse.

Watch and see if there are other symptoms such as a weepy eye that is bubbling, or there is a foul smelling, cheesy kind of material coming from the eye, with respiratory difficulties. If this is the case, this would be far more serious and would need the intervention of a vet.

Kathryn
Countryfarm Lifestyles