Katy
07-01-2009, 01:40 PM
My 7 year old drake has been experiencing watering/seeping eyes on and off for the last couple of weeks. It's not ***** or infected in appearance, however, it's like a clear/foamy discharge seeping out the corner of his eyes, so he has wet feathers around his eyes. Otherwise his eyes look clear and there is no discharge from the nostrils or any indication that he is having respiratory issues. I thought it may be an irritation from something that scratched his eye but it is happening in both eyes and it isn't affecting my hens, so it doesn't seem to be an irritant that is bothering the flock as a whole. He has shaky legs genetically, and gets more weak during his molt in the summer, so he's been sitting a lot just resting. The only other difference in his behavior recently is that he isn't up and running around as much with the flock-he tires out and needs to sit, and has not been swimming in his pond very much, which is his normal choice of location in the yard. When a duck changes behavior/normal activity, it catches my attention and alerts me that there may be concern that he is not feeling well. We have been providing clean water buckets and pond water, so he has plenty of opportunity to clean his head. I made an appointment with our avian vet for tomorrow, just to get a professional to look him over and perhaps do a test on his droppings for any parasite activity etc. However, I always appreciate the experience of others on the forum as well. Thank you.