duck feather problems

[ZoeS95423]

I am 100% sure, my I have had my cayuga longer, and she has looked like this ever since I got her.... my female pekin doesnt bother the other ducks are all either. I have treated her for mites, because two months ago I posted about my cayugas problems, and someone said it might be mights, I didnt find any on her, but I treated her just in case. I was considering giving her a bath in dawn, but im not sure if it will help her. Or just make things worse.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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No don't wash your cayuga in dawn, it was your pekin that had the discolored feathers right, wash her and see if the dawn will help. I am still wondering if your cayuga might need some extra protein, she could try her on some Nutri Drench, I give it to my ducks and chickens during molt. and at other times too.

 

[GrannyCarol]

If you are seeing "feather bone" things, are those the new blood feathers growing in as she molts? If so, don't worry, feed her well and give her lots of bath water and she'll grow gorgeous new feathers for you. Many of my girls look pretty awful right now, esp the ones that lay well. Some of mine are almost bald with molt, I would hate for anyone to see them! I know in a month or so, they'll be all pretty and "brand new" looking. If your girl's didn't have a good diet before you got them, their old feathers will look ratty. As long as they don't have parasites, eat well and are good weight, don't worry about it. You can add a bit of rolled oats to their diet, for some reason that is supposed to help grow pretty feathers. Also people have luck adding a small amount of dry cat food for the increased protein they need at molting time.

Maybe a picture would help us to see what the problem is?

 

[ZoeS95423]

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I have seen the " feather bone" things since I have had her, wouldnt she have molted by now?

ETA: I dont have a camera, just my cell phone, and It takes terrible pictures.

 

[GrannyCarol]

If you got her in May, she will probably molt out old feathers this fall, perhaps even soon, if you are lucky! If they were blood feathers, the new feathers coming in, they would have come in by now. Next guess is that they are old, worn out feathers. Is there any sign of mites or lice on her? Will she let you examine her skin pretty thoroughly? Particularly look on her shoulders to see if her skin is irritated or if she has tiny bugs on her. You can Google "poultry lice" and "poultry mites" to get an idea what to look for. They are fairly easily treated - I'd treat all your birds if you find them on one bird. It's easy to get them, wild birds can bring them when they stop by. There are various treatments you can try. Most likely she just has poor feathers from a poor diet and won't look good until she does her fall molt.

 

[ZoeS95423]

I have checked her for lice a few months ago, very closely, I didnt see any but I treated her anyway, and I treat the coop when I clean it so I wont have any.

 

[GrannyCarol]

Sounds good to me. I guess, as long as they seem healthy then, feed them well and wait for the molt.