Help! Duckling has down missing on face, and a scab on her head...?

[purplesquirrel]

One of my ducklings has slowly lost a bit of down around her mouth and eyes, also, a scab has formed on the back of her head.
I thought maybe she had burnt her head on the heat bulb (I have moved the bulb now) and then perhaps it scabbed up, she scratched it with her foot, and now it looks a bit scruffy?

But then it doesn't really explain the loss of down feathers around the eyes and mouth.
She's fine in herself, runs around with her play mate, eats and drinks lots.
I give them a luke warm bath for about 5-10mins every other day. She doesn't actually seem to like water much, whilst the other ducking does crazy splashing around and putting his head under.

Their brooder is huge, and not very warm, only near the bulb, so no chance of overheating. I clean them out every couple of days because they make such a mess, they haven't been near my other chickens or ducks, and I never use any harsh cleaning chemicals.

I just can't understand it!
Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I don't think she's losing any more down, but it can't be sure...

Last photo of my male duckling who has no down loss or scabs:

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my ducklings has slowly lost a bit of down around her mouth and eyes, also, a scab has formed on the back of her head.
I thought maybe she had burnt her head on the heat bulb (I have moved the bulb now) and then perhaps it scabbed up, she scratched it with her foot, and now it looks a bit scruffy?

But then it doesn't really explain the loss of down feathers around the eyes and mouth.
She's fine in herself, runs around with her play mate, eats and drinks lots.
I give them a luke warm bath for about 5-10mins every other day. She doesn't actually seem to like water much, whilst the other ducking does crazy splashing around and putting his head under.

Their brooder is huge, and not very warm, only near the bulb, so no chance of overheating. I clean them out every couple of days because they make such a mess, they haven't been near my other chickens or ducks, and I never use any harsh cleaning chemicals.

I just can't understand it!
Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I don't think she's losing any more down, but it can't be sure...







Last photo of my male duckling who has no down loss or scabs:

Loss of down is normal when they begin to start getting in their new feathers but I wonder if the male ducking maybe chewing on her. Sometimes they can get bored and do this. Do they get any outside time [with supervision] to kind of break up boredom? stimulation is important fun time in the warm bath putting some stuffed animals around their brooder even hanging a head of romaine lettuce so they have something to do they will nibble on it and it's good for them too. [always have chick grit available when feeding anything other than starter] Make sure their getting a good quality diet which is very important for their growth since at the age they are they are growing fast.

 

[purplesquirrel]

Yeh they get out now and then, they also live with 2 little chicks which are their best friends. I put them together after I sold some of the other ducklings and these two wouldn't stop crying for days. As soon as I put 2 chicks in (I'd hatched at the same time) they stopped instantly. Now they all sleep in a big fluffy pile together. Thank you for your feedback, I keep forgetting to introduce to greens in there, I'll go do that now!

P.s their brooder has branches and logs in there for them to climb on and under, it's more for the chicks to get away from the ducklings if they want to

 

[Buck Oakes]

i would recommend taking the ducklings out everyday at least for an hour, if they don't get enough time then they will really start to fluff pluck and you'll end up with a mess in your brooder from so much blood

 

[Buck Oakes]

to also help with feather eating or fluff plucking hang a red or blue light over the brooder, as in blue i mean a darkish blue not like LED

 

[hugz4all4]

I havr two snowy mallard ducklings that have started to do the same around their necks, one is completely bald. Scratches at it a ton. I posted about it last night. Ive owned ducks/ducklings for years and have never seen this before.
Can I put anything on it? Its not red or bloody. Im afraid if they keep scratching at it, it will end up that way.
OP.. Sorry to high jack your post.. I only got one response to mine..

I did have a pic on my post.. Its titled.. Snowy mallard scratching at neck., (i think) its under ducks..

 

[Buck Oakes]

sometimes if you put some cornstarch on their backs and neck (careful not to get it in their eyes of course) It makes them stop because the texture has changed. but to put it on correctly you kinda have to dump it on the duckling/duck or else it'll just be a thin layer of white and will still have the texture of fluff. if it continues they could start to pull out each others blood feathers as they go into juvenile stage

 

[hugz4all4]

sometimes if you put some cornstarch on their backs and neck (careful not to get it in their eyes of course) It makes them stop because the texture has changed. but to put it on correctly you kinda have to dump it on the duckling/duck or else it'll just be a thin layer of white and will still have the texture of fluff. if it continues they could start to pull out each others blood feathers as they go into juvenile stage

Thank you!!!

 

[purplesquirrel]

I havr two snowy mallard ducklings that have started to do the same around their necks, one is completely bald. Scratches at it a ton. I posted about it last night. Ive owned ducks/ducklings for years and have never seen this before.
Can I put anything on it? Its not red or bloody. Im afraid if they keep scratching at it, it will end up that way.
OP.. Sorry to high jack your post.. I only got one response to mine..

I did have a pic on my post.. Its titled.. Snowy mallard scratching at neck., (i think) its under ducks..

Haha no worries, it makes sense to join in, i do it to other people

 

[purplesquirrel]

Ok will have to get them out for an hour a day. It's quite cold out though, and they just cry and try and huddle in.
I put them in the greenhouse to scratch around and they loved it, so warm and there's plenty to explore with plant pots and logs everywhere.

I gave them some pak choi and broccoli suspended on some string and they were going crazy snaffling it up! Absolutely loved it