Guttersnipe Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Obviously not very healthy if you've done your job and the dog is fetching them back to you, but i wanted to ask whether anyone else from around the country has noticed something that I have encountered this season. Every year I get a bird or two - particularly wigeon, but then that's the majority of my quarry ducks, with "rice breast disease" or Sarcocystis. These are rice grain sized cysts which are very noticeable in the muscle of the duck, therefore not evident if you just pluck it, only if you cut into the breast. However this year the incidence seems higher - I've had 5 or 6 so far, this isn't enough to be statistically important or worrying in itself but i wanted to know if anyone else had noticed an increase? I was particularly interested in the east coast and south as I don't shoot there, other locals i've spoken to in our club seem to think its just one of those things - it doesn't seem to unduly affect the flight or outward appearance of the affected individuals. i'm no expert but there is more info on the link below - www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/waterfowl/sarcocystis.asp Make the most of the next few weeks! Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roostshooter1 Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hello mate ive had 2 mallard with rice breast and 3 wigeon with rice breast this season all of which were drakes if thats any coincidence Ive only ever had the 5 and they have all been this season and from the same pond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 I have never shot a duck that I've known to have the condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barls2-9-12 Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Same here not had one what I no of touch wood. What's the bet some hanging in the shed will have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 I have never come across it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 To my knowledge I have never had one either, I have read about this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guttersnipe Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Thanks for taking the time to reply lads, we'll see what anyone else has to say - just interested to see if there was higher incidence this season or if it was regional . Main thing is the ducks seem unaffected by it but I don't like not eating what i shoot - although supposedly harmless to humans, the infestations are usually so server as to render the meat inedible. Cheers GS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrelhall Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 Just read the link on the post Apparently they catch it by ingesting the eggs passed in the feces.Possibly the RSPB are partly responsible for its spread due to its feeding of large numbers of ducks in the same area day after day week after week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 was that "ducks" or "d*cks"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFreddysCat Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 So far this season I've shot 31 ducks (teal, wigeon and mallard). No cases of rice breast that I've noticed. All looked healthy with plenty of fat on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) Squrrelhall , there are a number of major RSPB wildfowl reserves close to me ( Ouse Washes , Titchwall and yare Valley reserves and I have never seen or heard of them feeding the ducks , indeed knowing some of the wardens i know its not RSPB policy to feed waterfowl though they do feed the garden birds ) . The WWT does feed the wild swans and a lot of pochard and some mallard get a free hand out , but very few teal or wigeon ever visit their swan feeding sites. Far more ducks might however be atttracted to fed flight ponds. Edited February 1, 2015 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrelhall Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Anser May be but ive seen them feeding them on T V when they have fed them scooping grain out of a barrow into the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 I think what you may have been watching is the WWT and they apear frequently on TV. They have swan feeds at several of their reserves at Welney , Martin Mere and Slimbridge and of course some ducks will take advantage of the free hand outs , but many , many more duck come in to fed flight ponds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varminator Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 There was an article in the shooting press about this a few years ago just after I had shot my first Wigeon with this problem. In 31 seasons I have only seen it twice, both times in Wigeon. Apparently it doesn't affect the bird and is still edible. I always skin Wigeon now due to this, breast the meat and curry/slow cook them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Shot a wigeon Sunday and it had this condition, first time I have come across this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Varminator Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Makes my skin crawl 😟 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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