Duck with a feathers missing on lower chest

[Miss Lydia]

Have you seen her pulling on her feathers while preening?

 

[Spiase20]

I've never caught her pulling feathers our while preening, doesn't mean she couldn't have. This would be new behavior then.

Have no clue what or why.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Me either but I have read of member posting about their ducks over preening. And maybe it is molt just seems strange it would only be there. Can you see missing feathers anywhere else?

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I don't think ducks go through a hard molt like chickens. I see lots of feathers over the yard but no bald spots.

They do have hard molt

Here is one of my ducks having a bad molt!

 

[Miss Lydia]

True but feathers missing other places not just chest but wings too just like your showing.

 

[Spiase20]

No feathers missing else where. This is the duck who had the broken leg, so she lays down more than the others. But her skin seems fine and same with other areas. It seems like feathers are growing back though.

I read somewhere that when they are going to get broody they may pluck their chest feathers to feel egg against skin and for nest. Is that even true?

Duck mysteries....

 

[chickens really]

They do have hard molt View attachment 2047292View attachment 2047293
Here is one of my ducks having a bad molt!

Molting.....

 

[Isaac 0]

It looks like she is plucking her feathers off to me too. Has she been showing any broody like signs?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy pluck down when they go broody to line their nest. But if she hasn’t laid yet I don’t think that’s it.

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

Molting.....

Yes