Duck Without Working Oil Gland

[Miss Lydia]

I know that there are definitely ways to help keep her feathers oiled, I just can't remember what was best to use for it... but I seem to recall at least one duck that got injured in the tail area that damaged their oil gland, I believe...

@Miss Lydia
@Amiga

Was it either of you that knows what can be substituted for a ducks natural oils?

I have no idea @RavynFallen I have only seen wet feather in my old ducks and after molt it's taken care of. Warm Compresses may help if the oil gland isn't working properly if it isn't genetic. Still maybe worth trying.

 

[robinjs11]

Im having the same issue with my muscovy drake for the past 3 days or so.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Im having the same issue with my muscovy drake for the past 3 days or so.

How old is your drake? Muscovy's are not the best for bathing anyway they just don't take to water like other domestics. But molting gets the feathers back in top shape. Mine are all in molt right now. Mine will bath but my drake doesn't every day

 

[Ren2014]

I have no idea @RavynFallen I have only seen wet feather in my old ducks and after molt it's taken care of. Warm Compresses may help if the oil gland isn't working properly if it isn't genetic. Still maybe worth trying.

What about a little hydrogen peroxide to clean the duct real well?? Maybe if it's semi clogged or something, the peroxide will help flush it out

 

[DucksinOR]

I'm not sure Hydrogen Peroxide would be the best idea. I have heard it can be pretty harsh on poultry's skin, but who knows, it might work.

Nothing appears wrong with her oil gland, no swelling, all her feathers are still there, no irritated skin.
I just put more oil on her gland. It has not rained much today, so she was dry. Her feathers didn't feel as brittle, so maybe it helped.

She is molting from her juvenile feathers to her first adult feather. Maybe they will be stronger.

 

[PINOAK RIDGE]

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, as well as, a topical anti-infective and I would hesitate to use it in this situation. It also damages new cells and dries out the skin, which is thought to slow the healing process. Since this duck already has brittle feathers, I would be afraid it would further damage them. If you did use it, I would try to make sure it only touched exactly where you put it & not gently pour it over the area.

Good luck

 

[dotknott]

Hydrogen peroxide is a bleach, as well as, a topical anti-infective and I would hesitate to use it in this situation. It also damages new cells and dries out the skin, which is thought to slow the healing process. Since this duck already has brittle feathers, I would be afraid it would further damage them. If you did use it, I would try to make sure it only touched exactly where you put it & not gently pour it over the area.

Good luck

I concur. H2O2 is used in the craft trade to bleach feathers, I'd hesitate to use it on birds feathers going into winter. (I know the grade is higher for this use in the craft trade, but I know what household grade does to my skin and would hate to see it used on a duck that already has oil production issues.)

Manually preening may be the best way to go if the gland just isn't working. I've read through the thread and it looks like we've touched on diet, access to water, ability to preen, and a clogged gland, which seems to cover the bases. But just because I'm not sure I saw it in the thread, are we sure she's even preening on her own?

I don't have an substitute for preen oil, but everything I've read says that preening oil is more of a wax than an oil, so you may be on to something with the coconut oil / beeswax blend. What if you put a small amount of what ever preen oil substitute you were using on the gland, would she use it to preen herself?

 

[PINOAK RIDGE]

A ducks feathers work in multiple ways. One is thermoregulation. They fluff their feathers to trap air inside the layers, as this provides additional insulation. If the duck has brittle or ragged feathers, the ability to maintain it's body temperature is seriously impaired.

Next is waterproofing. Ducks preen to tighten the weave of their feathers and add a thin layer of oil which waterproofs them and causes water to bead off their feathers. This process also makes waterfowl buoyant.

Please keep us updated.

It's interesting how feathers work and preening actually work. Feathers have microscopic hooks on the barbules that interlock & hook up with each other to form a barrier that effectively keeps out wind and rain. Maybe think of it reptile scales. They all line up overlapping the next to provide a "solid" barrier. The overlapping pattern is how they keep the elements away from the bird's skin. The ducks needs to meticulously maintain their feathers in order for them to provide the needed protection. So when a bird preens it is straightening and realigning the feathers out. Hooking up the barbules and oiling the feathers to keep them waterproof. Thus, preening is crucial to waterfowl. If they do not meticulously groom, they can become waterlogged and possibly perish.

So, even if OP supplies her with coconut or etc oil, if she isn't preening herself and realigning the weave of the feathers, her feather quality will be poor and not waterproof, despite oil. This to me, will make her "special needs" and require extra care. If her feathers aren't properly conditioned and waterproof, when the weather gets colder, she will not be able to thermoregulate and this can be fatal. She would need a climate controlled environment (indoors) or a southern relocation, down jacket or etc. The winter temperatures in Oregon wouldn't be kind to her.

I hope when she molts into her adult feathers they are in better shape and she becomes an avid groomer. Please keep us updated. Wishing you and her the best.