Feathers coming off my 8 week old Pekin ducklings

[fours2many]

Is this normal? The run is filled with feathers. My daughter picked them up and they are both dropping feathers like crazy. Just petting them, causes feathers to fly off them. Aren't they young for a molt? I do not even think they have all their adult feathers yet. Do ducklings lose their down feathers and grow new ones?

Thanks, Kristin

 

[duckgirl_19]

i would have them checked out cause i used to have one pekin duck and it didnt loose its feathers.
good luck i hope they get better and you find out whats wrong.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

8 weeks seems a bit young, (I think) I'm not sure when my girl started molting but the drakes do tend to feather out faster. As long as they don't get bare spots, I wouldn't worry just yet...

 

[fours2many]

Thanks.

There are no bare spots.

It is very hot here in south Florida, does heat cause them to shed downy feathers? The 2 younger ducks (5 weeks) are not losing feathers, only the 8 week olds. We checked them really good this evening, no mites, lice or sores. Just feathers coming off there tummy, but no bare areas.They have access to plenty of clean water 24/7. Their faces are clean, eyes clear. It just seems to have started when it got really hot. They have plenty of shade and lots of air flow too.

Is there any nutrients or anything special I can give them during this time of year? I give them crushed up niacin and lots of veggies. They also love cooked oatmeal (cold), mixed with peas and other veggies. They are still eating the chick starter food. I have to keep them on it, since they are housed with my chickens.

They have free run of our several acres for at least, 10-11 hours a day, but they stay right around the coop. Never wondering far.

I give them fresh drinking water (cold) 3 times a day. I also change their pools, 2 times a day. We have well water and the water I use for their pools is run through an iron remover and water softener. Could that be the culprit? If I use water straight from the well, my duckies would be orange from the iron in it. Their drinking water is run through a reverse osmosis unit.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks, Kristin

 

[kcollins]

Did you ever figure out what was happening? My 7/8 week old Pekin is doing the same thing! I am finding all sorts of feathers all over, but no bare spots on her. I was thinking it was just a early molt cause it got real hot here very fast this past week.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

My Pekins have been shedding feathers since they grew in. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

[kcollins]

Ok, good to know. Mine isn't losing an excessive amount, and it seems to just have started happening when it got real hot here.

 

[LittleSquidgenHome]

They are just molting. Ducklings start molting as soon as their first feathers are in, usually around 8 weeks, and then they get their second set of adult feathers by about 12 weeks or so. Then they should be all prettily feathered again and they should keep those till their yearly molt next year. They will only molt once a year after this year. No worries.

 

[kcollins]

Thank-you!

 

[maralynn28]

Quote:
I am so happy to hear this! My WH are losing feathers now (9wks tomorrow) but the cayugas haven't really- just one here or there. No bare spots and they are acting healthy but there are so many feathers! Glad to hear there is nothing to worry about, my 8 yr old is having fun collecting the feathers too. She says they are her "memories."