Duck Losing/Pulling Feathers

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ethelandfred

ethelandfred

Chirping
Apr 2, 2015
79
59
91
Vermont
Today when I went to feed my ducks I noticed there were quite a few feathers littering the floor, more than normal. They lose feathers occasionally but this was more than I'd seen.

There was no visible blood and it would be next to impossible for something to get in.

I was wondering if this is normal? As they are both black it is hard to tell what duck they came from, my male or female. I plan to do more investigating when I get home from work and look them thoroughly over.

Any thoughts? Is this normal molting? They have been loosing feathers on and off all fall, as this technically is my first year with ducks I'm not sure when and what is normal feather loss.

Thanks.
 
ethelandfred said:
Today when I went to feed my ducks I noticed there were quite a few feathers littering the floor, more than normal. They lose feathers occasionally but this was more than I'd seen.

There was no visible blood and it would be next to impossible for something to get in.

I was wondering if this is normal? As they are both black it is hard to tell what duck they came from, my male or female. I plan to do more investigating when I get home from work and look them thoroughly over.

Any thoughts? Is this normal molting? They have been loosing feathers on and off all fall, as this technically is my first year with ducks I'm not sure when and what is normal feather loss.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
It could be molt mine have all just finished, look at the flight feathers that is usually where I can tell molt is going on they will become loose and then fall out.Even now that all are finished I still will see some feathers laying around. With Black ducks you'll probably have to look at them in good daylight to see what flight feathers look like.
 
Thank you so much for your reply, I cleaned out their pen and let them into their pool the other day and they were visibly loosing more as they splashed around.

My female is pretty ratty so I think they are mostly hers but my male is loosing them occasionally too. They are all mostly wing feathers as you mentioned.

Is it normal for them to molt this late? I know our weather has been unusually warm for the season so they've been out and about and loving it.
 
ethelandfred said:
Thank you so much for your reply, I cleaned out their pen and let them into their pool the other day and they were visibly loosing more as they splashed around.

My female is pretty ratty so I think they are mostly hers but my male is loosing them occasionally too. They are all mostly wing feathers as you mentioned.

Is it normal for them to molt this late? I know our weather has been unusually warm for the season so they've been out and about and loving it.
Click to expand...
Seems the weather has most water fowl confused I am even reading of geese laying eggs and this time of year although not unheard of and usually the Chinese this is other breeds too, so yes molting this time of year this year I guess is the new normal. Yesterday One of mine must still be doing a bit of molting too there were lots of small feathers in the pool.

Thanks for update.
 

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