One sick duck

MD

MD

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Got lucky in the field today but when I was plucking a mallard drake this afternoon I found that every feather was coming off the breast with a big gob of a fatty deposit on the butt end.

Plucking the back I saw that the bird was really emaciated and when I got more of the breast exposed I saw that it was covered in these weird fat pimples. It stank of dirty socks too.

I discarded it.

What was that bird afflicted with?
 
I thought of taking pictures Rob, but my Photobucket account is well, in the bucket.

Let's just say that it looked worse than the ugliest case of acne you ever saw in high school.
 
I have shot one or two ducks in my day that have had irregularities but none had what you describe. Two trains of thought, take it to the local Ministry office so they can send it away to be examined or take it to the local vet maybe he could give you an idea. As you have probably already done I would keep it sealed in a bag, freeze it, and wash everything it came in contact with.
 
Whenever you harvest a potentially sick animal you should bring it to your local DNR so they can have it examined in case there is a parasite / outbreak affecting that species.
 
xeon said:
Rice breast?
Click to expand...

xeon, I was going to suggest that as my next question for MD, we found those little fat pustules in Pintails many years ago.
Not in all the Pintails , but enough during the season we decided not to shoot them.

They (fat/pustules) where just beneath the skin and throughout the meat.
I took a sample to the Alaksen National Wildlife Area office one time and the Biologist was in that day and told me it is common here.

I forget the actual name of these infection I am referring to as is xeon , but am fairly certain these are two different diagnosis. (sp)

Anyways, hope your Duck season has been produck-tive ;) and your shooting straight too.

Rob
 
Boomer686 said:
Whenever you harvest a potentially sick animal you should bring it to your local DNR so they can have it examined in case there is a parasite / outbreak affecting that species.
Click to expand...

Ive brought a couple ducks in for some funky looking issues and received the standard "they get diseases and parasites, it's common". Don't waste your time.

OP......your bird was probably wounded with a golden BB at some point and was suffering a festering wound. I had a mallard one time like that. The butt was almost rotted right off and stunk to the high heavens! I was shocked the dog even picked it up and brought it back once I saw it!
 
the spank said:
Ive brought a couple ducks in for some funky looking issues and received the standard "they get diseases and parasites, it's common". Don't waste your time.

OP......your bird was probably wounded with a golden BB at some point and was suffering a festering wound. I had a mallard one time like that. The butt was almost rotted right off and stunk to the high heavens! I was shocked the dog even picked it up and brought it back once I saw it!
Click to expand...

I have to agree with "the spank" here. Over the years we have shot a duck or two with pellet wounds. Some were healed completely but the odd one would have a nasty infected wound.
It is good to see you are getting into some ducks Michel.
 
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