Do mature muscovy drakes always look this gross?

[Miss Lydia]

My poor drake last winter slept under the roost and got pooped on too so I took pity on him and made roost shelves so now him and the other ducks can sleep under the roost And not get pooped on. As for cleanliness my drakes have never looked like that. Yes their feathers can get pretty beat up usually from fighting up against something like a fence, but your drake need something Nutritional maybe start adding some extra protein to his feed. And give him plenty of water to bath in if possible. Bathing means preening which will help those feathers. Maybe try adding some cat or dog kibble to their feed for extra protein Good quality though nothing cheap that is mostly fillers. Feather quality needs a good protein and when did he molt last? Please I am not saying your not taking good care of him he is just needing some extra nourishment to get him sleek and in good shape. White Muscovys seem to have more feather issues than their colored counterparts. I had 3 white females when I first started with Muscovys and their feather quality was much worse at times of the year to where by end of summer all three had wet feather. Then they would molt in the fall and look great for a while and it would start again so evidently they just need a little extra nourishment to keep up.

 

[chickens really]

Maybe he has wet feather?.....A possibility.

 

[casportpony]

This is David my Muscovy drake, he's a year old now. His feathers look disgusting, not smooth and soft like the girls and he stinks of preening oil. Is this the norm?

Here's a Pic of him and the pen he lives in with his girls.

You're in New Zealand, so I think you guys are at getting close to molting time, yes? Here in California, USA, mine will look like that at the end of summer, but do check his oil gland and make sure it looks okay.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh yes they are heading into fall. A good molt and some extra protein should help a lot.

 

[casportpony]

My white drake Mammoth looks like that. My black drake is also in a bit of a mess, but isn’t as bad.

When do Muscovies ducks in Australia and New Zealand molt?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good question K maybe they don’t molt in the fall. ?

 

[casportpony]

Good question K maybe they don’t molt in the fall. ?

I'm thinking they do mol t in the fall, but was curious if one month was more common.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully we’ll find out just like do they lay eggs year round? Do yours mine don’t they quit late fall and usually start back in March. No breeding during that time too. Very interesting how things are in different in parts of this vast world.

 

[casportpony]

Hopefully we’ll find out just like do they lay eggs year round? Do yours mine don’t they quit late fall and usually start back in March. No breeding during that time too. Very interesting how things are in different parts of this vast world.

I get Muscovy eggs year round and just got my first ducklings two days ago.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Aww my friend in Texas gets eggs year round and ducklings too if she’s not careful