Duck with a feathers missing on lower chest

[Isaac 0]

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.

Missed that post.....oops, OP keep a close eye on her and watch for any excessive preening behavior or anything abnormal. It doesn't look like molting to me and I couldn't see how drake could rip feathers off in that area.

 

[Spiase20]

Ill be sure to keep a close eye. Also ordered a birdie apron incase she is plucking.

 

[Isaac 0]

Good idea!

Just realize that if she gets mites they will most likely hide underneath the apron, I also would take it off occasionally to allow proper preening habits and allow pin feathers to grow when molting.

 

[chickens really]

What bedding are you using? Clean it out completely and get a mite and lice spray to treat the house they use.
Where are you located?

 

[Spiase20]

They actually don't have bedding. We made this special raised coop where the main floor is a grid like thick hard plastic with small holes to allow water to go through, then a large soft water proof mat with holes ontop. So that they have softness for their feet (Lily uses her leg like a cane, so I wanted to prevent her hurting it from walking).

This allows me to do a complete spray down of the coop with a hose, water drains under the coop while none stays in. Since Lily lays down alot, I wanted to make sure she constantly has a clean spot. So I clean their cooo twice a day.

We are currently in the works of building them a large run attachment with the same concept (15 x 12 feet) and with a pond inside.

I'll try the apron for a few days so it can heal, take it off and see how she does.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope you share pictures of what you’ve done always nice to give others good ideas! Your coop sounds interesting too hope you’ll share.

 

[Spiase20]

This is a picture of the soft mat, it's all over the coop flooring now.

Now here is a picture of the harder floor underneath:




Now here is the big coop we are working on attached to the smaller. The smaller has insulating material around the smaller section of the cage and a tarp to hold it in place, where they can hide. This also kept them warm in the winter. Then they waddle out to the bigger section where the food and water is.

The building like structure is what we are building. This is an older picture. It already has a water proof roof and a door.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I love that floor idea. I bet it’s nice for cleaning where do they lay their eggs do you have nest box? Really nice run too! Do they mind walking up an down the ramp?

 

[Spiase20]

The second floor has nesting boxes, but they haven't started laying eggs yet, so I guess we'll see if they'll lay up there. In the beginning, every night we would put them up on the second floor and let them figure out how to get down the ramp, over time, they learned to waddle up and down, but don't use it often.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh good grief that’s right not laying yet. Yeah that kind of a steep incline for duck legs.