Do my ducks have wet feather?

[Mandarin]

My older duck seems to sit in his pond a lot at the moment - I think it's a comfort blanket after last week's fox attack.

I'm going to take the pond away, give them a smaller bucket to play and bathe in and keep giving good food. Let's hope by next week they're looking more waterproof.

 

[Ravynscroft]

I'll give the cat food a go - will sprinkle a small handful in their feed tray. I used to have a small flexi bucket they could use for bathing but I threw it away recently...I'll take a trip to DIY store tomorrow and get a new one.

Hope my older duck doesn't fall out with me for taking the big pond away!

He might give you the stink eye a bit, but he'll survive, lol!

Just a tip, it's always good to keep an extra small tub or 2 stored away when you have ducks, just in case you ever have to soak feet for bumble or need to separate one from an injury for water, etc... so many things I used to think we didn't need have come in handy later...

 

[Mandarin]

I do have 2 small flexi tubs that I use for water. I used to have a shallow wide tub that I got rid of when I was having a clear out. Will get another one tomorrow so they can at least stand in a bit of water but not swim.

On a positive note, they seem to be bonding ok. My older duck used to stand on the side of his pond (which is in a secure cage) until I went to out him to bed. The new ducks retreat to the coop at dusk. My older duck now follows them. They're occasionally starting to quack in unison too. Fingers crossed for a life long friendship.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep us updated on how they are doing.

 

[chickens really]

My older duck seems to sit in his pond a lot at the moment - I think it's a comfort blanket after last week's fox attack.

I'm going to take the pond away, give them a smaller bucket to play and bathe in and keep giving good food. Let's hope by next week they're looking more waterproof.

As has been mentioned...If feathers are damaged they won't be great in a week..It will take till the next molt...Do not rush this it's going to take longer than a week if they are in as bad as shape as you think?...

 

[Mandarin]

Here's an updated picture of them after this mornings swim. You can really see how the feathers are soaked. The water was running off their wings a bit more than a few days ago, but this still isn't right!

The last picture is my healthy older Drake so you can compare.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Big difference but hopefully with some really good nutrition now with an extra bit of protein they will begin to show big improvement maybe not in a week but by a month at least. Just keep up the TLC and keep them from getting soaked so they don't get hypothermic. All 3 are beautiful boys.

 

[WVduckchick]

They do look like really pretty fellas! Worth the shot at trying to help them, for sure.
Looks frosty where you are. They sure are lucky that you took them in!

 

[Ellagance]

I had the same thing happen to my drake yesterday, I'm sorry to hear about your drake

 

[Miss Lydia]

Has you drake molted this year? I see it mainly in my ducks right before they molt maybe a month before. Feathers are pretty raggedly too.

Welcome to BYC!!