9 year old duck has loose feathers

[Stella&DorisDuck]

Stella, my 9 year old Mallard mix, has had loose feathers for well over month or so. She's NOT molting, but losing a fair # of pin feathers and larger feathers this week, probably about 10 to 15 feathers a day, maybe more. It's enough to be noticeable in the yard. Doris, her younger friend, seems fine. I thought it might be lice (I've never had to treat my ducks), so I got some dust and did both ducks even though there were no signs of lice or eggs on either. Stella seems to be eating a bit less too and is pickier about her food. I started some ACV yesterday. Does anyone have any ideas? Are there any safe vitamin supplements for ducks? Thanks for any ideas.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Sounds like Stella has had a great life!! 9 years is a good effort for a duck- it may just be that she is aging- and now needs a bit more of a hand with her nutritional needs. There are multivitamins available that are safe with poultry. You should be able to get something where you buy your feed.

 

[Stella&DorisDuck]

Thanks for the reply. I lost a 15 year old Blue Swedish about a month ago. I don't want to lose Stella too. I'll look at the feed store for vitamins, but nothing is ever printed about dosages for ducks, and I don't want to OD her on something. I'll see what I can find. I've just never had this problem before, and it's baffling me.