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Farming Friends Forum » Ducks

1. ani
   Member

   Basically in the past 2 days, something or someone has been going into my duck pen while i am at school and pulling out the feathers on my drakes wings. Yesterday i went down and his left wing had all the feathers missing, and they were all scattered in the water and around the 2 duck houses, and today i went to check on them at 3 and the same happened, except to his right wing.
   Please help!!
   Ani x

   Posted 11 months ago #

2. m40mo
   Administrator

   hi ani I can't remember the age of your ducks but it sounds like a normal moult to me, when one of my girls first did it last summer about 15-16 months old it was quiet a shock as all her flight feathers came out in one day, just be careful as to where they swim as without these feathers it can be difficult for them to jump from the water, this link helps explain
   http://www.greenwing.org/teachersguide/summer01/summer01moreabt.html

   mo x

   Posted 11 months ago #

3. ani
   Member

   oh thank you! they are only around a year old, just over now and we were so worried about poor Oscar! he looks so funny without his big old wings!! :P

   Posted 11 months ago #

4. campbell ridge
   Administrator

   It may well be moult Ani but to be certain it is not someone going in and de-feathering him, are his wings damaged in any way? such as looking sore and red or bloody at all?
   As Mo says, he may not be able to get out of water like this, or even float very well so a shallow pool will be necessary.

   Sarah L

   Posted 11 months ago #

5. powellrobert
   Member

   Take 7 dust and mixed it with warm water and sprayed all of the ducks and their bedding also...any pyrethium dust would work I guess.Try it out and let me know if it helped.

   Posted 11 months ago #

6. m40mo
   Administrator

   please be very careful spraying anything on ducks especially if they are in a small confined area
   ducks who have access to fresh bathing water and clean bedding shouldnt get mites or fleas as chickens do
   personally I still think this duck is haveing its annual moult which is alarming to see the first time but perfectly normal,

   I really hope no one is pulling out his feathers but if they were as Sarah says he would have bleeding wounds as well as being in a highly distressed state and suddenly show fear of any human even his owner

   mo x

   Posted 11 months ago #

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