Thank you for BYC & for accepting my request to join! I hope I have chosen the right site for my question. I have a love of all birds and water fowl, and presently live on a lake. Recently a group, perhaps a “gaggle”? of Muscovies, has came to my yard and decided it’s bird friendly. It started with one, and increased to 9. They were intent on eating the fallen black oil sunflower seeds that had fallen from my bird feeder. After researching a bit, I found that these are not ideal full-time food. So I went to the local farm store and bought cracked corn and duck feed. I toss out about 4 cups of equal parts of this mix each morning with a bucket of fresh water near. They have been coming to my yard every morning for a feeding then crossing the road to the lake to take a dip. They usually come back again in the evening around 5 PM for another snack, before returning to roost for the night near the lake again.
I have noticed two of the larger older males are completely covered with their yellow oil. Their feathers look stiff and oily all over. Not just where they’re oil gland is. Where once their feathers looked smooth and lovely, they now look oily ALL OVER and the feathers are getting caked and separated. I’m wondering number one; Is this normal? Number two; is perhaps the food I’m feeding them too rich and causing them to produce too much oil? They travel from yard to yard in the neighborhood and I’m certain that most of the neighbors they visit are feeding them bread.
On another note, since I’ve been feeding the Muscovy, I have additional visitors three Canadian Geese and a Mallard and his leucistic female mate.
Thank you for your input on my two oily Muscovies.
-LittleT
I have noticed two of the larger older males are completely covered with their yellow oil. Their feathers look stiff and oily all over. Not just where they’re oil gland is. Where once their feathers looked smooth and lovely, they now look oily ALL OVER and the feathers are getting caked and separated. I’m wondering number one; Is this normal? Number two; is perhaps the food I’m feeding them too rich and causing them to produce too much oil? They travel from yard to yard in the neighborhood and I’m certain that most of the neighbors they visit are feeding them bread.
On another note, since I’ve been feeding the Muscovy, I have additional visitors three Canadian Geese and a Mallard and his leucistic female mate.
Thank you for your input on my two oily Muscovies.
-LittleT
Glad you joined.
You might start a thread in our Ducks forum for more help.... 
to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
