HELP!!! 2 YEARS, NO MOLTING FROM DUCK

[Maddy10122]

Hello everyone!
Some background: My ducks were born in June of 2017. Being a first time duck/chicken mom, I when they came to age, I promptly trimmed their flight feathers in fear of them flying away. One of the ducks has molted multiple times in the years since, but the other duck still has the original flight feathers I trimmed 2 years ago(shown in pictures). Being all black, I can tell as she has aged that she has molted some of her chest feathers as they are now white, but I am still concerned as to why she has never COMPLETELY molted. Could it be an underlying condition? Or a genetic condition?

I've attached photos of both birds and their wings for a comparison. There is definitely an overall difference that I can feel in terms of how "fluffy" their feathers feel when I hold and handle them.

Does anyone have any ideas at all as to why she has not molted her feathers in so many years?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

What breed are your ducks? - Other than Bantam, Mallard and Muscovy ducks no other duck breed requires trimming of their flight feathers.
None of my 29 Ducks have ever undergone what is called a "hard molt", when the majority of their feathers fall out, sometimes even expose patches of skin. My ducks are in some kind of "permanent molt", they loose feathers which regrow, then loose the next batch of feathers and so on. A hard molt is something undesirable for a duck, especially during cold weather.
Your duck looks similar to what mine do, pushing the feather shafts out, then fluffing them up.
If she behaves like a duck, eats, drinks, poops and makes a mess with water and food she's very likely ok.

 

[Jpat]

ive adopted a few ducks in poor shape, i added nutritional yeast to their feed, and have cat food as a treat daily, and meal worms and it helped them molt

The extra vitamins are good for all and the protein helps with feather growth.

Just to make sure ide check the feathers, the vent, the eyes and the skin for mites or other parisites. Just incase


Shes a little rough but still very cute!

 

[DuckyDonna]

Ya, normally their poop smells like flowers but too many mealworms does mess things up!

 

[DiYMama540]

I wouldn't go as far as flowers @DuckyDonna

 

[DuckyDonna]

I wouldn't go as far as flowers @DuckyDonna

 

[HuskerHens18]

Does she spent a lot of time in the water swimming and cleaning herself like a normal duck? I hope you can get this figured out!

 

[Maddy10122]

The one in question is a black swedish, and the other is a Rouen.
Good info! I did not know that their wings did not need to be trimmed....I don't trim them anymore, only the first year they would run around flapping their wings and get a little airborne so that is why I was cautious and trimmed the wings.
I definitely have never seen a hard molt and no bald patches ever on them. I know they are molting when their feathers all all over the yard, but I always notice it is only the rouens feathers, never any black feathers.
She definitely behaves like a normal messy duck! Just after so long, I was starting to get worried why she always looks so ratty, and if was related to an underlying condition I was not aware of.
Is there anything that can be done to encourage or promote her molt?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ya, normally their poop smells like flowers but too many mealworms does mess things up!

Umm what kind of flowers?

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

If you take off your pink glasses it'll look more like: