Ducklings scratching themselves

[MallardDuckling]

I recently noticed today that my ducklings are scratching and cleaning themselves more. Usually around their tail is where they are usually cleaning. The scratch 90% of the time on their heads by their bills.

I don't know if it's cause I changed their bedding or not. I used towels, then since it was a hassel to wash towels everyday, I went out and bought puppy pads and carefresh natural bedding from TSC. I did this yesterday and changed them yesterday.

Or, could it be that they are just getting the start to adult feathers and the red skin around their bills. They are Muscovies just incase anyone wondered.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

 

[Kevin565]

It can also be the warmer temperature. My birds seem to be prone to dry skin

 

[MallardDuckling]

They are kept indoors in their brooder.
I keep the door shut as the rest of the house can get pretty cold.

They do seem to sit in front of the door to the cage at the opposite end of the light.
I was told to keep it about 85 degrees, however weh I first set it up it was 80 degrees. Didn't seem to bother them, no shivering, still active, still cuddled up together. I've moved it a tad since they have been at the other end recently. It's now at 70 degrees.

They're almost a week, I'd hate to drop the temp. any lower since they are still young, but if it makes them happy and keeps them healthy I'm willing to.

 

[Amiga]

How much swim time do they get?

 

[MallardDuckling]

They really haven't been swimming yet. I have a paint liner they they can stand and lay in, but it's too small to swim in.
I tried to tub the other day, but forgot the built in plug doens't work and we don't have anything to block the drain, so the water rasn't deep enough to swim. They could have swam if they wanted to, but they were a little startled.

I'll find something they can swim in today.

 

[Amiga]

When the runners were babies, they would get so much powdery stuff on them, it really helped to wash it off. It was bits of food, and poop, and feathers, and the waxy stuff that covers new feathers, and who knows what-all. It would come off in the bath, and they would look new again for a few hours.

 

[MallardDuckling]

I did not know that. Thank you, I'll get them right in the water.

 

[purplesquirrel]

I recently noticed today that my ducklings are scratching and cleaning themselves more. Usually around their tail is where they are usually cleaning. The scratch 90% of the time on their heads by their bills.

I don't know if it's cause I changed their bedding or not. I used towels, then since it was a hassel to wash towels everyday, I went out and bought puppy pads and carefresh natural bedding from TSC. I did this yesterday and changed them yesterday.

Or, could it be that they are just getting the start to adult feathers and the red skin around their bills. They are Muscovies just incase anyone wondered.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

I don't know if this still going, but my ducklings are 4 weeks old and scratch a lot around their face, neck and bill, the down feathers in the backs of their necks (especially the boys) is thinning and their scratching quite a bit, but does not look some. I hope it's just new growth and facial wobbly bits coming through? :/

 

[purplesquirrel]

*does not look sore

 

[desertdarlene]

How old are they? When their adult feathers begin to come in, they can often be itchy and irritable. If their down and feathers are otherwise OK looking, it could just be that or itchy dry skin.