A duck walking around waddling is normal, it may look weird but this is perfectly normal, what isn’t normal is your duck walking around looking drunk
A duck that is wobbly, not standing upright, and being off balance is concerning, this article looks into why this happens.
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Why is my duck acting drunk?
If your bird starts to walk around as though it is drunk then you’d be right to be worried, a change in how your duck acts is a sign that something is going on with your bird, here is why your bird may be walking around as though it is drunk:
Mareks:
Mareks disease is a very common bird disease and it is very common in small flocks. It is caused by the herpes virus and can cause lameness and paralysis making the bird seem as though it is drunk
Other signs of this ailment in your birds include diarrhea, difficulty breathing, a skin texture change, vision improvement, and complete paralysis.
Coccidiosis:
Coccidiosis can affect a variety of birds, ducks included. This is a parasitic infection that is caused by the coccidia parasite.
The parasite can contaminate feed or water and cause your bird to develop symptoms like lameness as though the bird is drunk and can’t walk, dehydration, convulsions, ruffled feathers, decreased thirst, weight loss, loss of appetite, tremors, emaciation and eventually death
Zinc poisoning:
Zinc poisoning can develop in ducks who are exposed to galvanized wire that isn’t vinyl coated. If objects made up of galvanized wire become immersed in water then the zinc can leach into water and poison your birds
Other signs of zinc poisoning include instability of the bird’s legs, weakness, droopy wings, excessive drinking, dehydration, weight loss, diarrhea, and seizures.
Botulism:
Botulism is another illness that can cause your bird to act as though it is drunk. A bacteria called clostridium botulinum produces a toxin and this toxin is what causes this sickness in ducks.
If your birds eat food or drink a drink that contains this toxin then the bird can begin to suffer from this ailment.
Signs that your bird is suffering from this ailment include being hunched over and sitting on the floor as though the bird is drunk, a floppy and weak neck, and the inability to stand
What to do:
Your bird may be walking around like it’s drunk because of a variety of reasons as shown in the above.
Trying to figure out why your bird is acting drunk can take a long time and you still may not figure out why your bird is acting this way. The recommended solution for a bird in this condition is to take it to the vet
The vet will do a physical exam on the bird as well as run a variety of tests on the bird to figure out what is wrong with it.
Once the vet diagnoses the problem they can offer treatment for the bird’s condition if treatment options are available.
The vet may also have the bird stay at the pet hospital overnight if the bird needs it.
FAQ:
What does it mean when a duck wiggles?
If you find your duck wiggling then this means that the animal is in a good mood. This wiggling may happen when they see you coming towards them or when they are getting food
What is an abnormal behavior in ducks?
A variety of behaviors are abnormal in ducks, these include vent pecking, feather pecking, toe pecking, cannibalism, chronic egg laying, sneezing, weak legs, excessive sleeping, uninterested in foraging, and puffy cheeks to name a few
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other duck related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Do Ducks Protect Chickens?, Why Do Ducks Waddle?, Duckling Swollen Chest, Why Are My Ducklings Chirping So Much?