Call Duckling Keeps Itching

[The Ranch Girl]

I’ve noticed my baby call duckling is Constantly itching at its face. It will take it’s foot and itch at its face a lot. Usually it will itch right under his beak, near his ear, or on his head.
At first I thought it was just preening, but he does it so much like it’s bothering him. What kind of problem could it be? And how could I treat it? Or is this just normal?
https://vimeo.com/1045759752?share=copy
This should take you to the video I took of him doing while swimming.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Could you give some more details, and tell us everything you can think about your duckling?

• How old is he?

• What do you feed him?

• Does he have an unlimited access to a water deep enough for him to completely submerge his head?

• Is he your only duckling, or does he have siblings/friends?

And do you think you could post a video here? (The link you just posted doesn't work!!)

...Could be nothing alarming, or an opportunistic bacteria/yeast that affects his skin, or something else - I don't know; details about his lifestyle (at least) would be appreciated, and even a video if possible.

 

[The Ranch Girl]

Hi.

Could you give some more details, and tell us everything you can think about your duckling?

• How old is he?

• What do you feed him?

• Does he have an unlimited access to a water deep enough for him to completely submerge his head?

• Is he your only duckling, or does he have siblings/friends?

And do you think you could post a video here? (The link you just posted doesn't work!!)

...Could be nothing alarming, or an opportunistic bacteria/yeast that affects his skin, or something else - I don't know; details about his lifestyle (at least) would be appreciated, and even a video if possible.

He is exactly 6 days old, I feed him duck starter mixed with all flock starter (because it’s smaller) I usually have to grind the food up for him so he can eat it, because it’s too big.
Yes he has an unlimited amount of water, and he can definitely submerge his head depending on the water level.
If you read this post here it will show his whole story and why he has no siblings;
Thread 'Call Duck Hatching'
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/call-duck-hatching.1649096/
Let me see if the video link will work,
https://vimeo.com/1045759752?share=copy
There, let me know if it did.

 

[Papaye]

Ok... I have read the thread and all the posts...

Did you eventually put an antibiotic ointment on your duckling's belly? It could have affected him - weakened his defenses, I mean, and so explain it if ever he is affected by a bacteria/yeast. (Could still be the case without it being caused by the antibiotic... duckling could just be unlucky, you know?)

You at least know his itchiness is not due to a molt, since he is only 6-days-old...

The link still doesn't work.
Do you think you could put your video on Youtube? Is it possible for you?

 

[The Ranch Girl]

Ok... I have read the thread and all the posts...

Did you eventually put an antibiotic ointment on your duckling's belly? It could have affected him - weakened his defenses, I mean, and so explain it if ever he is affected by a bacteria/yeast. (Could still be the case without it being caused by the antibiotic... duckling could just be unlucky, you know?)

You at least know his itchiness is not due to a molt, since he is only 6-days-old...

The link still doesn't work.
Do you think you could put your video on Youtube? Is it possible for you?

No, I had not used the antibiotic ointment on him because I didn’t have any on hand at the time,
If this is truly being caused by a “bacterial or yeast” then how can I treat him for that?

 

[Tookie]

The first thing that came to mind was an ear infection or something of the sort. I know he's small but try looking into both ears and see if you can see anything in them.

 

[My15Ducks]

He might have something stuck to his fluff like a bit of dried membrane. You could let him swim in warm water. As long as the duckling is otherwise healthy, he’s probably ok. I would check the navel and make sure it healed well

 

[The Ranch Girl]

The first thing that came to mind was an ear infection or something of the sort. I know he's small but try looking into both ears and see if you can see anything in them.

I’ve never examined a ducklings ears before, it was quite interesting lol
As far as I can tell they look clear and very good.

 

[The Ranch Girl]

He might have something stuck to his fluff like a bit of dried membrane. You could let him swim in warm water. As long as the duckling is otherwise healthy, he’s probably ok. I would check the navel and make sure it healed well

I let him swim in warm water this morning, he kept itching the whole time. But maybe that helped. He doesn’t do it while I hold him. Only when I have him out of the brooder.
The naval looks very good to me

 

[Tookie]

I’ve never examined a ducklings ears before, it was quite interesting lol
As far as I can tell they look clear and very good.

Lol!
That's good they seem fine, so maybe that's not it. I would look everyday just in case something does appear.