feathers feel weird

[mickeymousears]

once in a blue moon i can corner my Rouen duck and pet her... yesterday as I was chasing her out of the house I was able to do that
Her feathers feel rough. She isnt soft at all, I would almost say prickly. All my other birds (see signature) have soft feathers. Is there something wrong with her? is that maybe her breed trait? any ideas?

 

[Amiga]

Has she bathed recently? (May sound silly, but I have a couple of ducks who go through an, "I won't get in the water" phase, and they get kind of rough and sticky feeling).

 

[mickeymousears]

I was wondering that myself. I saw her in the water this morning. I'll try to touch her this afternoon and see if she's soft again.

Their pool broke mid winter so we've been using a mud box which they aren't fond of. Maybe that's the problem. Pools should be coming out soon.

 

[jessiduck]

It could be that or maybe she molted and the rough part of the quill is growing in

.

 

[nickie]

Or, maybe she needs to molt if she's younger. You know, the first full "holy crap did someone wreck a semi carrying down pillows" molt.

 

[mickeymousears]

Shell be a year old on the 3rd and no she hasn't had a big molt yet. Hopefully that's it!!

 

[jessiduck]

Or, maybe she needs to molt if she's younger. You know, the first full "holy crap did someone wreck a semi carrying down pillows" molt.

LOLLLLLLLL! Oh my gosh that made me laugh so hard.

 

[Oregon Blues]

None of my ducks are soft. They feel almost armor plated with the feathers hard and tight.

Soft feathers don't sound very water-proof to me.

 

[nickie]

None of my ducks are soft.  They feel almost armor plated with the feathers hard and tight.

Soft feathers don't sound very water-proof to me.

I'm pretty sure by "soft" the op means smooth. Smooth and tight as opposed to coarse, rough, and a bit loose.