Feathers not drying! Duck not using oil gland.

[RebinNH]

No, only observed her use (rub head on) her oil gland once or twice shortly after I got her 2 weeks ago. But not since. She literally spends hours after getting wet to the skin preening and preening but not hitting the gland. I watch her all the time. She also misses out on food because she is spending so much time at it. I have started to close the pool early because I am concerned she will go in again after all of that time spent (I've seen her do that) and will then have to go through the night wet.

She doesn't seem to be molting either. My drakes molted big time earlier but the one have still have doesn't and neither are the girls. Not many feathers around.

New duck mommy, how much dawn did you use and did you wash her all over with it? What you say does make sense for this duck because of where I got her....old oil off so new oil can stick. When I got her, it looked like she had some other kind of oil (not duck oil) in her feathers. Very dingy grey. Finally starting to look white.

That is IF she will use that gland. While I have her in the bath I'll try washing off the oil gland and putting a compress on as well. I hope she relaxes into it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

it would probably be a good idea to put the pool up if it's getting cold and she is staying wet over night. Just a deep bucket of water makes Muscovy happy to bath in. My drake can pretty much empty a 3 gal bucket pretty quick just by standing next to it and splashing.

 

[RebinNH]

Well I washed her with dawn and warm water and then blew her dry - took forever - as she preened. I watched and again she only used the oil gland at the beginning and only twice. Then she went back to her long and arduous habit of just pulling on her feathers. At least it was a very warm day yesterday. I feel so sorry for the little thing. My drake has taken to mating her every AM as I let them out of the coop. Today he grabbed her at the corner of her eye and held her there. I tired to get him to stop and he let go and then grabbed the other eye. I am afraid she just has so much to deal with and seems not to understand that using her oil gland would at least help her feathers.
The other hen is a master of running from my drake. Probably learned it at the farm. I'll bet she's still a virgin.
It is still very warm in NH - unseasonably so! I will switch to a bucket once it gets too cold. The drake can always go into the brook if he wishes. So far the hens are not interested in that.
Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

How is your Muscovy doing now that you washed her in dawn?

 

[RebinNH]

Thanks for asking. Better I think but she will not tolerate me touching the gland or near it. I tried compresses a couple of times but she squawked as if in pain when I tried to gently massage it. My drake wasn't even in the run while I was working on her but stood there watching from outside and later challenged me. I can see why. Her feathers are better and she is spending less time preening but was still wet when I put them to bed a couple nights ago. Last night she seemed not to have had a bath so was drier anyway. I'm keeping an eye on her and spraying Vetericyn on the seeming irritated areas near the gland. If she doesn't improve I may need to bite the bullet and take her in.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Thanks for asking. Better I think but she will not tolerate me touching the gland or near it. I tried compresses a couple of times but she squawked as if in pain when I tried to gently massage it. My drake wasn't even in the run while I was working on her but stood there watching from outside and later challenged me. I can see why. Her feathers are better and she is spending less time preening but was still wet when I put them to bed a couple nights ago. Last night she seemed not to have had a bath so was drier anyway. I'm keeping an eye on her and spraying Vetericyn on the seeming irritated areas near the gland. If she doesn't improve I may need to bite the bullet and take her in.

hmmm... Could you get photos of her oil gland?

 

[RebinNH]

I'll try...

 

[Miss Lydia]

here is more info http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/mmissue71.htm

 

[RebinNH]

Yes, thanks Miss Lydia. Somewhere I already saw this and have been attempting to do all they say.
I do not agree however with the Gimborn Vionate® Vitamin Mineral Powder for Pets. It has BHT which is high on the EWG list of concerning ingredients. It also contains cyanocobalamin which is a synthetic version of B12. I try (as I eat almost entirely organic) to address most issues with diet and good clean supplements as needed. I will research what I can give that has vitamin A. I have lightly cooked carrots and given that on occasion. Is wheat something you have added to try to help with low A?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I haven't ever looked up the Gimborn Vionate Vitamin Mineral powder I sure wouldn't use it with those chemicals. I eat NON GMO/Organic and only feed my flock NON GMO.

Only thing I give my flock is organic Oregano and Organic Apple cider vinegar.
I also buy organic romaine for them.