Ancona ducks stopped laying and are losing their feathers

[MysticAK]

I have 4 Ancona ducks 3 lovely little hens that laid for me everyday up until a month ago and I have or handsome drake. I was wondering if anyone had any advice, my hens have stopped laying ever since I let then outside full time(due to harsh winters up here in Alaska they stay indoors most of the winter except on nice days). And on top of that one hen who has been slightly losing her feathers for the past three months (which I though was due to te drake) is now losing alot more and the drake has start to lose his ( they are mainly losing their wing feathers and underneath their wings) my other two girls are not losing feather but still aren't laying. I was wondering if this could be a vitamin deficiency or if anyone had any suggestions.... Thank you

 

[ChristineR]

Sounds like they are molting.

 

[Kevin565]

Defiantly sounds like Molting

 

[MysticAK]

Well that's what I thought too, but only one hen is losing her feathers and has been for three months now. Can molting last that long?


FYI - first time raising ducks so forgive give me if I sound like I have no idea...lol

 

[ChristineR]

Some ducks will slowly drop feathers and others will drop a bunch at once.

Their biological "clocks" may be a bit out of whack if they've been going in and out with varying amounts of light, too.

MTA: And we were all first time duck owners at some point, so don't worry about asking questions!