How do ducks get parasites? (2023)

How do ducks get parasites?

Ducks and geese become infected by swallowing certain small aquatic ani- mals, which are said to serve as the parasite's intermediate hosts. No satisfactory treatments for the re- moval of roundworms and tapeworms of ducks and geese are known.

Signs & symptoms of worms in ducks

These are common symptoms you may see if ducks have worms: Ducks are 'off their legs' or lame. Ducks are underweight. Coughing (often caused by gapeworms).

Both chickens and ducks can be infected with very small parasites called coccidia which live in the wall of the gut. These cause diarrhea, weight loss and can result in the deaths of very many young birds.

Unfortunately, birds are subject to internal parasites just like other animals. Internal parasites (usually intestinal) such as nematodes (roundworms) or flukes and tapeworms come from eggs that may have contaminated the soil, water or food.

The parasitic larvae that causes swimmer's itch are deposited into lakes via goose and duck droppings.

Powders containing insecticide are the traditional treatment for external parasites. Pyrethrum is very effective against mites and lice. Johnson's pigeon spray contains biodegradable pyrethrum and works well. It is obtainable from agricultural suppliers and trade stands at bird shows.

Either routinely worm your birds with Flubendazole at least every six months (spring and autumn), and ideally every three months or send in droppings samples every eight weeks to Chicken Vet. When cleaning your waterfowl houses, use an appropriate disinfectant such as Interkokask that is licensed against worm eggs.

These parasites are found in some animals that live near ponds and lakes, including geese, ducks and muskrats. The parasites' eggs get into the water through the animals' waste. When the young parasites hatch, they live and grow in a type of snail that lives in shallow water.

You can merely cut a fresh pumpkin in half and feed it to your chickens, or I like to pour some water into the pumpkin half - the ducks really love that! - or fill the halves with some chicken feed to get hesitant flock members to give it a taste.

Can dogs get parasites from ducks?

Giardia is a parasite that loves waters laced with bird feces (duck ponds). Dogs and humans can get it by consuming the water, and it doesn't take much; a dog licking its fur after a swim, for instance.

Clinical signs in poultry include weight loss, inappetence, shrunken comb, drop in egg production, whitish diarrhoea, incoordination, trembling, opisthotonos (severe spasm in which the back arches), torticollis (twisting of the neck) and blindness.