4wk old duck smells weird!!!

[TomCahalan]

Well i change their bedding every day and I move their covered area to a new dry spot everyday

Well, there is only so much you can do. They are livestock after all. I just reread your post and see that they are still ducklings. They might stay a bit cleaner once they get their next set of feathers in.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Are they actually wet? They are at an age to be growing feathers and they come in on the chest and belly first. Doesn't explain the smell though.

 

[Newduckmom_20]

Are they actually wet? They are at an age to be growing feathers and they come in on the chest and belly first. Doesn't explain the smell though.

Not like soaking but it's damp. Sometimes it's the whole belly sometimes it's just certain areas

 

[DuckduckGo0se]

What's the bedding material? Is the bedding wet or damp for most of the day and why?
Sounds like maybe they dont get to dry properly or stay dry. And the bedding smell is sticking to them.
It might take a couple days for the smell to go away from them after dealing with whatever is causing the bad smell.
Air circulation, bedding material, water spillage. Some odor control products or something. Maybe beneficial bacteria from compost or bottled aquarium bacteria to try to keep bad smelling microorganisms to lower levels. I don't know, some ideas.

 

[Newduckmom_20]

UPDATED!!! Hi all, thank you so much for all the advice it really helped!! I think the problem was space and not enough bathing time. I started bathing them for 30mins-1hr and after a few days the smell went away! Super happy about that

I do have one more question though, have you guys ever had a duck peck at the other ducks feathers? One of my ducks seems to be pecking at my other ducks, especially when they are in the water. I’m assuming it hurts cuz sometimes they scream, I’m not sure if this is just a phase or not

 

[AvianBrain]

I have 3 ducks, when they were feathering out, they would nibble at each other's tails, it went away after they had grew all their feathers in. They do "poke" each other in the sides every once in a while, this a dominant bird telling the other one to "get out of my way". if what your ducklings are doing is more frequent and antagonistic it may be because of boredom or stress. to confirm, yes ducks sometimes do smell if they happen to sleep on poop before their feathers dry out after a bath.

 

[Newduckmom_20]

I have 3 ducks, when they were feathering out, they would nibble at each other's tails, it went away after they had grew all their feathers in. They do "poke" each other in the sides every once in a while, this a dominant bird telling the other one to "get out of my way". if what your ducklings are doing is more frequent and antagonistic it may be because of boredom or stress. to confirm, yes ducks sometimes do smell if they happen to sleep on poop before their feathers dry out after a bath.

Ahh okay I see thank you!!