r/duck • u/TerribleRelation2033 • 3d ago

Breathing pt 2

Wasnt letting me attach videos to the original post for some reason

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u/whatwedointheupdog 3d ago

Very possibly related to the dusty bedding which should never be used. Straw can also harbor molds which can affect their respiratory system. I'd remove all the bedding ASAP, rinse everything down to remove the dust, let them have a good swim to clean off. Switch to puppy pads or old towels for a bit to let their systems clear out, then go back to regular bedding that's not dusty, pine shavings are safer than straw. It's also possible the breathing is related to their breed/size. Pekins seem to run warm so make sure they're not overheating and that they are on a low protein diet with food only available during the day so they're not gaining too much weight, and that they're getting plenty of exercise and swim time to keep them in shape.

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u/Pigsfeetpie 2d ago

Pine shavings create more dust than straw and it breaks down faster too. I think the straw in this situation is just fine.

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u/whatwedointheupdog 2d ago

Dust is dependent on the individual product, either one can have more than the other. The dust in pine shavings is mostly pine dust, which some birds can be irritated by. The dust in straw is dirt, pollens and possibly molds, all of which can cause irritation and in the case of certain molds, cause illness and death. They both have their pros and cons for use, but with straw being more likely to contain respiratory irritants, in a situation like this, where the breathing issues started after the person began using a very dusty straw, they should be minimizing the chances of reactions and in the future, only use a good quality straw that is low dust if they opt to return to that, which unfortunately is difficult to find.

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u/Pigsfeetpie 2d ago

It depends what the base of the coop is. If its dirt, either bedding will do if changed regularly. I think thats the key. Unless OP was using old straw, I'm not sure. Tractor supply and most pet stores sell compressed straw bales wrapped in plastic which is fine.