Can I bathe my ducks with soap?

[torischofield]

My ducks are about a month old and they are really dirty and kinda smell like fish, so would it be ok to use shampoo on them

? They are only outside in the day when it is not storming so they are always protected from rain and other things (i think that`s what the oils are for but I`m not sure)​

 

[Miss Lydia]

My ducks are about a month old and they are really dirty and kinda smell like fish, so would it be ok to use shampoo on them

? They are only outside in the day when it is not storming so they are always protected from rain and other things (i think that`s what the oils are for but I`m not sure)​

I have heard of washing ducks in Dawn dish soap, but I wouldn't do it very often. Most of the time just a kiddie pool with fresh water is enough to get them clean. At 4 weeks old I'd sit and watch them when you let them swim though, you want to make sure they can get out of the pool safely and also not chill. excuse my manners,

 

[duckmamma]

If their feathers are oily and smelly, then yes, I would wash them in warm water with a little unscented Dawn added (like the bird rescue people do for oiled ducks). But you'll have to wash each one, then rinse it thoroughly, then wrap it in a towel for a bit. You can't just let them wash themselves in the sudsy water or they'll drink it.
After you've washed them, then keep them out of the water for a few days or so, to allow them to preen and cover their feathers with oil from their preen gland again, to waterproof their feathers before they swim again.