DUCK FEATHER DAMAGE PROBLEM- CALCIUM DEFICIENCY?

[deliaboodle]

My Duck DAPHNE is suffering with broken and splayed feathers on wings and they dont seem to be growing back. im really worried about her, my other 2 Lila and Joni are fine but shes really not looking good and its been months now.

she was quite badly traumatized before i started looking after her and before i got Lila and Joni as her sister was eaten by the fox. Since then she comes to e everyday for a stroke and sits on my knee and enjoys some tlc but she seems happy especially now she has her 2 friends/sisters for a family.

Shes the only one who is laying and has consistenly layed for 18months, her egg shells are fine but im hoping all her calcium isnt going to make the egg shell and depleting her feathers nutritional supply. id much rather she looked after herself and didnt lay, especially with winter approaching.

has anyone got any advice? im new to duck care ive had them around 18months. i think Daphne is about 2 years old.

im very concerned abut her, shes my little angel and id hate to be doing something wrong.

Many thanks

if you would like to see a pic i can post or email.

Jayne

 

[Kevin565]

A picture would be very beneficial to the issue. How long has she been exhibiting this issue? Has it been constant or is it getting worse?

 

[Amiga]

And thanks for sharing your situation. We always love photo's anyway, and in this case, it would help, as Kevin565 said.

Meanwhile and in any case, if you don't already have them, get some poultry vitamins and start giving them weekly. The kind I use comes as a packet of powder. It's Vitamins and Electrolytes Plus (the plus is probiotics). So if it's emotional or nutritional, that should help.

Now it could be something else, like external parasites. Can you take a really close look? Little tan specks, if I recall what I have read, are what some of them look like.

Please keep us posted.

 

[deliaboodle]

Thank you so very much for your help, ill get a multi vit powder if you think this will help as a boost for them all anyway? i did look through all their feathers and i do check her and havnt seen any evidence but im not ruling it out. should i get some treatment as a precautionary measure? and how often /do they need worming?

many thanks

ill try and upload a picture

J

 

[Amiga]

We all have different approaches to worming.

Since I have no other birds or animals that might carry the worms, I haven't wormed yet, in three years. If there comes up evidence of internal parasites, I will treat them then. Some folks just worm their ducks once or twice a year.

 

[Kevin565]

Here's a article that covers some of the common suggested worming methods:

http://poultrykeeper.com/duck-keeping/worming-ducks

 

[Amiga]

Thank you, Kevin565!!