Help! Duck Absorbing water!

[LLCoyote]

I haven't a clue why but my female ducks ave really loose feathers compared to my drake. His feathers lay pretty tight together, when you pet him they are slick to the touch and water rolls off of them. My females however... not so much. Their feathers are loose to the touch and don't lay as tight as my drake's. Now my females are being weighed down in the pool and their feathers are wet. Do I need to go to the vet? Or is there something I can do??? Please help!

 

[ElaineS585]

Uh, are you sure they're not molting?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I don't know what breed you have but my muscovies at this time of year look water logged when they get out of the pool, but after they finish molting they have brand new feathers and are once again water proof.

 

[LLCoyote]

They just molted two months ago, so I doubt that they are molting. They aren't Muscovies either... they're Welsh Harlequins

 

[cat1994]

It could have wet feather, I think that’s what it is called, it is were a duck doesn't make enough oil or it’s oil gland in clogged up so it's fathers are not water proof and they get water logged when they swim, they also look sort of messy and loss all the time b/c they can't keep their feathers clean with out the oil

 

[LLCoyote]

How would I deal with that??? Is it lethal? Do they need a vet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
warm compresses may help lay on the oil gland. what age are your ducks?

 

[Amiga]

It may be the preen gland, or sometimes (I have read) it's an external parasite, like mites. Can you get a close look at the gland and around her eyes?

 

[LLCoyote]

I can get close to her eyes if I have to. I pick her up often. Where would I put the warm compress and what do I look for around the eye? I don't see any bugs.

 

[zzGypsy]

the gland is on their back just above their tail... watch them preening and you'll see they reach back with their head and rub it above their tail, or nibble back there with their bill... that's them collecting oil to spread on the feathers. if you hold them and fluff around in the same area you should see the gland... it looks like a bump maybe a bit bigger than a pea.