HELP! Hole on top of crested duck head!

[Crissynoelia]

I have two pekin ducks I am currently taking care of set to go to a farm this upcoming week. One of the ducks is crested, last night upon observation at around 10 p.m. she was fine and acting normal no issues or abnormalities. This morning around 8 a.m. I went to check on the ducks, and to my surprise there was a huge gap of hair missing on the top of the crested ducks head, right in the middle of her crest. I am not sure how this occurred or if this is normal, please advice immediately!!!!!

 

[rp riley]

I have two pekin ducks I am currently taking care of set to go to a farm this upcoming week. One of the ducks is crested, last night upon observation at around 10 p.m. she was fine and acting normal no issues or abnormalities. This morning around 8 a.m. I went to check on the ducks, and to my surprise there was a huge gap of hair missing on the top of the crested ducks head, right in the middle of her crest. I am not sure how this occurred or if this is normal, please advice immediately!!!!!

Are the ducks males or females? Can you post a picture of the ducks head

 

[Jaeden0720]

Are the ducks males or females? Can you post a picture of the ducks head

Yes, that would help a ton

 

[Jaeden0720]

I have two pekin ducks I am currently taking care of set to go to a farm this upcoming week. One of the ducks is crested, last night upon observation at around 10 p.m. she was fine and acting normal no issues or abnormalities. This morning around 8 a.m. I went to check on the ducks, and to my surprise there was a huge gap of hair missing on the top of the crested ducks head, right in the middle of her crest. I am not sure how this occurred or if this is normal, please advice immediately!!!!!

However, it might me mating? How old are the ducks do you know? Are there males around?

 

[Crissynoelia]

The two ducks are from a feed store so they are sold straight run so it is unclear if they are males or females, they just turned a month old. given to me to house for about a month so they can they be integrated with the rest of the ducks on the farm.

 

[Trisseh]

Females will pull feathers too in dominance tussles or if they’re bored/stressed/whatever. Crested duck’s crests are irresistible things to grab for the other ducks.

 

[Jaeden0720]

Hmmmmm, I might not be mating then? They're to young to be mating... Is it an open wound? If so, I'd put some antibiotic cream on the wound.

 

[Trisseh]

Oh, they’re just babies. Even so they can and will pick at each other for various reasons. Have you seen any picking or grabbing behaviour? Is the duckling scratching at it? Do they have a container of water deep enough to dunk their heads in?

if picking is occurring, it’ll be worse now that there’s a target on her head.
To me, based on what I’m seeing in the picture, I would guess it was inflicted by the pen mate. It’s hard to tell for sure but it looks like the feathers were plucked out, there don’t seem to be any stubs. You can clean it with a bit of chlorhexidine or iodine diluted in warm water, pat it dry, and apply antiseptic or antibiotic ointment; but monitor closely and separate them if the pen mate is going after it, because it’ll just make it worse.

 

[Crissynoelia]

Here is a closer picture of the gap of hair, I am usually home the majority of the day so I am constantly with them or checking on them, I have never seen a lot of pecking or grabbing only a handful of times they would peck at eachothers bills or tails and I would separate them, my fear is that maybe since it is just the two of them throughout the night unsupervised perhaps the other duck is pecking at the crested one. The crested duck, Named Pily, is acting normal and doesn't seem to be bothered by the gap I.e. no scratching

 

[Crissynoelia]

Update: it seems to me (not sure if I am over reacting) that the gap has gotten bigger/worse even though the ducks have been separated. It does not seem to bother the duck, swimming as usual, eating normally, drinking normally, no real scratching of the area. I also have cleaned the area with antiseptic and antibiotic ointment as recommended. I also spoke with someone who knows a bit about ducks and she advised that it could be normal and harmless. Nonetheless I am very concerned and worried for the duck, if anyone has any more advice or knowledge it would be greatly appreciated!!