Duck still has wet feather

[Cassandragrenr]

I wonder if you get a kid pool and try that
Maybe they are not wanting to go in with the geese and other ducks
I believe Muscovy ducks are not big for water like regular ducks are
I did just have a little 7 week old duckling get stuck in the pond all day
I was away on holiday and left my daughter to look after my ducks
She didn’t realize she needs to add water to the ponds daily as it goes down and then they struggle to get out
When she found her all that was sticking up was her head and a little neck. She was drowning
I got home late that night and it took her 4 days before she would go in a pool or pond and only after I put her in and she was able to get out. She was scared of water ( poor thing ) imagine a duck scared of water
But now a week later she is back to going in on her own
Maybe something has happened that scared them in the big pond ?

I hate to say this but we have horrible people where we live, they live on the same farm as us and sometimes they throw the muscovies into the pond I try telling them that they can't do that and how it harms them but they continue to do it!?
I never really took that into consideration, because even before they never went in the pond but now that I think about it, it's pretty obvious.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

I hate to say this but we have horrible people where we live, they live on the same farm as us and sometimes they throw the muscovies into the pond I try telling them that they can't do that and how it harms them but they continue to do it!?
I never really took that into consideration, because even before they never went in the pond but now that I think about it, it's pretty obvious.

That’s possible
Maybe try a little kid pool for them then
They can go in to bath giving them better preening that will help to keep the oil up
I added a drain to my kid pool so cleaning it is really easy
Turn the nob and it drains then I can rinse and fill
I have both deeper ponds and kid pools and often find my ducks like the kid pools better
Probably cause I clean them daily
The ponds I do ever 4 days
My birds are very picky ( my fault ) lol

 

[ruthhope]

Some muscovy just don't like water. I have a drake -- little stinker -- who has to be hosed down when he gets too "ripe" as he wont go in the kiddie pool. I am sure your muscovy do preen even though they don't like going into water. Mine "dab washes" dunking his head in his water tub and using that to preen. When it rains, or when I hose him down, he looks like he has wet feather, but it dries out and his feather are fine.

Is it only when it rains that your muscovy feathers look wet? if so that is normal. If they always look wet even when the ducks are dry, then that is wet feather and there isn't anything more you can do, except have patience. Their appearance my inprove when they moult and get new plummage.

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Some muscovy just don't like water. I have a drake -- little stinker -- who has to be hosed down when he gets too "ripe" as he wont go in the kiddie pool. I am sure your muscovy do preen even though they don't like going into water. Mine "dab washes" dunking his head in his water tub and using that to preen. When it rains, or when I hose him down, he looks like he has wet feather, but it dries out and his feather are fine.

Is it only when it rains that your muscovy feathers look wet? if so that is normal. If they always look wet even when the ducks are dry, then that is wet feather and there isn't anything more you can do, except have patience. Their appearance my inprove when they moult and get new plummage.

They've now moulted, they're beautiful now and no issues whats so ever with feathers, they're waterproof now atleast. Though they still hate swimming which is starting to frustrate them, since the ladies never leave the pond, maybe that'll get them to try swimming atleast

 

[ruthhope]

They've now moulted, they're beautiful now and no issues whats so ever with feathers, they're waterproof now atleast. Though they still hate swimming which is starting to frustrate them, since the ladies never leave the pond, maybe that'll get them to try swimming atleast

Yes my stinky boy has moulted and looks great in his fresh finery!! He even had a voluntary bath this week -- his first this year

 

[cassandrapettersson]

Yes my stinky boy has moulted and looks great in his fresh finery!! He even had a voluntary bath this week -- his first this year

That's amazing!

 

[ruthhope]

That's amazing!

He was a sweet boy for just one morning, and he had a long [voluntary] cuddle too. But since he is less aggressive than before .
Glad yours are doing well after their moult!! If they keep preening the shouldn't get wet feather

 

[cassandrapettersson]

He was a sweet boy for just one morning, and he had a long [voluntary] cuddle too. But since he is less aggressive than before .
Glad yours are doing well after their moult!! If they keep preening the shouldn't get wet feather

It feels like watering a plant