Help! Muscovy drake feathers discoloured

[Ambi]

Hi!
This is my first muscovy drake and I need some help!
He's around 5-6 months old, 4.6kgs and a total grumpy butt! He's a basically a completely white muscovy (except one small black dot on his head!)

Over the past week or so we've noticed he's gotten some discolouration in some of the down feathers near his tail, it's turning a yellowy/orange colour.

He likes to get messy and rub up against anything rusty, dusty, greasy or muddy in the yard!

So we're used to him being a bit dirty, but now it looks like these feathers are growing that colour and like its over some kind of bump...

Daddy and I are getting a bit concerned.. And we haven't found a bird vet locally we can take him too...

My friend has a muscovy drake older then my Dex, but he doesn't have this problem, so I'm worried it could be something serious

He's been getting really violent lately, so I'm thinking he might be in pain from whatever this is and it's giving him a short fuse!

It would be much appreciated if anyone had any insite! Please and Thankyou!

Here's a couple of photos, let me know if you need a better one, Dex didn't want to keep still and my phone screen recently smashed so I'm not 100% sure how clear it is!

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you here with us

That yellowish spot near is tail is an oil sack and this is where
he get's the oil to bub all over his feathers,,,,,,, All water fowl
have on their backs near the tail,,, good observation

gander007

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep that's what is is his oil gland and sometimes you'll even see yellow on his feather from the waxy oil he rubs over his feathers to keep them water proof. totally normal. I have a couple of solid white Muscovy's and the only way to keep them clean is to make sure they have clean water to bathe in.

As far as his attitude it's totally normal also, he is at the age where hormones are running rampant, and they do get grumpy does he have some females to give his attention too? he really needs a few.

 

[Ambi]

Oh, okay! Thank you!
I was pretty concerned since the others don't have it ^^'

Miss Lydia, I have 3 other Muscovy girls, but because of the property we're on Mums making me pen them separate!
I have one laying duck, A 6month old (drakes sister), and a the new addition a 5 week old duckling!

Dex is taking it out on my Indian runner drake...
Would it be better to house all the ducks together? Or pen all the Muscovy together and have the runner separate?
Mums worried about accidental hatchlings and Dex mating with his sister, would that be an issue?
The runner is best friends with two bantam chicks, so he wouldn't be too lonely till he can have a quacking friend!

Sorry for all the questions! We didn't think we would have any issues because Mum used to care for ducks when she was young... I'm starting to think maybe she wasn't caring for Muscovies, she doesn't remember what breed hers were... But of all breeds she should be able to remember if it was Muscovy, don't you think?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh, okay! Thank you!
I was pretty concerned since the others don't have it ^^'

Miss Lydia, I have 3 other Muscovy girls, but because of the property we're on Mums making me pen them separate!
I have one laying duck, A 6month old (drakes sister), and a the new addition a 5 week old duckling!

Dex is taking it out on my Indian runner drake...
Would it be better to house all the ducks together? Or pen all the Muscovy together and have the runner separate?
Mums worried about accidental hatchlings and Dex mating with his sister, would that be an issue?
The runner is best friends with two bantam chicks, so he wouldn't be too lonely till he can have a quacking friend!

Sorry for all the questions! We didn't think we would have any issues because Mum used to care for ducks when she was young... I'm starting to think maybe she wasn't caring for Muscovies, she doesn't remember what breed hers were... But of all breeds she should be able to remember if it was Muscovy, don't you think?

5 week old duckling would not do well with a hormonal drake how old is your runner? I'd put Dex and your Scovy ducks together but pen the runner drake separate from them because Dex being larger could really hurt the Runner, as for the duckling is one of the Scovy ducks it's mama? if so place them together till the duckling is at least 10- 12 weeks old then try them all together just the Scovies though your Runner is not going to be welcomed in that group no matter what you do Dex is the dominant drake they don't tolerate other drakes in closed pen conditions. Out free ranging wouldn't be so bad because the Runner could stay far away but he doesn't have a chance with a big scovy drake. I have 4 Muscovy drakes here but plenty of room for them to stay out of each others way even then fights do break out but they are much better matched. About Drakes and chicks, if your Runner is 5 months or older I wouldn't place him with hens if he was to breed with them it could kill the hens, they are not made to mate the way ducks do. I know this sounds complicated but some temp fencing could separate the pen where all could see each other but not be bullied or hurt.

 

[Going Quackers]

5 week old duckling would not do well with a hormonal drake how old is your runner? I'd put Dex and your Scovy ducks together but pen the runner drake separate from them because Dex being larger could really hurt the Runner, as for the duckling is one of the Scovy ducks it's mama? if so place them together till the duckling is at least 10- 12 weeks old then try them all together just the Scovies though your Runner is not going to be welcomed in that group no matter what you do Dex is the dominant drake they don't tolerate other drakes in closed pen conditions. Out free ranging wouldn't be so bad because the Runner could stay far away but he doesn't have a chance with a big scovy drake. I have 4 Muscovy drakes here but plenty of room for them to stay out of each others way even then fights do break out but they are much better matched. About Drakes and chicks, if your Runner is 5 months or older I wouldn't place him with hens if he was to breed with them it could kill the hens, they are not made to mate the way ducks do. I know this sounds complicated but some temp fencing could separate the pen where all could see each other but not be bullied or hurt.

Agreed. As well if there is concern about a nest, pull the eggs. Unless a duck leaves and makes a "hidden" nest you have complete control over whether any eggs incubate.

 

[Ambi]

Okay, Thankyou!

My drakes tend to ignore the duckling!
She sleeps inside, but if I have the muscovy drake with the ducks then the Muscovy's would free range the yard!
My duckling is always with Munroe (Dex's sister) and Dex likes to follow Oliver around

Sorry, all my ducks have boys names! Oliver and Munroe are both girls haha

So, I think the duckling would be fine free ranging with Munroe since Dex doesn't stick to that group!
We've got 800sqm that's a fair bit of space for 4 muscovy =]

My runner drake is only 2-3months at the moment, both his hens are batman (and the only who don't have clipped wings, so they can get away when the larger birds pick on them)
They sleep seperately too! He just likes to watch over them during the day, we're slowly keeping them apart for longer periods of time, so eventually they'll be kept apart =]

Once housing issues are sorted I hope to get a runner duck for him! He's such a sweet boy, if hate for him to be lonely

I think I'll need to work on getting a new hutch or two!
So the muscovy have their own...
At the moment my muscovy girls share their happily home with the Hens, but I when I house the Dex with the ducks I want the hens else where!

I now have the Runner drake out from
With the Muscovy drake, I got a bit worried about leaving them in the hutch together!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay, Thankyou!

My drakes tend to ignore the duckling!
She sleeps inside, but if I have the muscovy drake with the ducks then the Muscovy's would free range the yard!
My duckling is always with Munroe (Dex's sister) and Dex likes to follow Oliver around

Sorry, all my ducks have boys names! Oliver and Munroe are both girls haha

So, I think the duckling would be fine free ranging with Munroe since Dex doesn't stick to that group!
We've got 800sqm that's a fair bit of space for 4 muscovy =]

My runner drake is only 2-3months at the moment, both his hens are batman (and the only who don't have clipped wings, so they can get away when the larger birds pick on them)
They sleep seperately too! He just likes to watch over them during the day, we're slowly keeping them apart for longer periods of time, so eventually they'll be kept apart =]

Once housing issues are sorted I hope to get a runner duck for him! He's such a sweet boy, if hate for him to be lonely

I think I'll need to work on getting a new hutch or two!
So the muscovy have their own...
At the moment my muscovy girls share their happily home with the Hens, but I when I house the Dex with the ducks I want the hens else where!

I now have the Runner drake out from
With the Muscovy drake, I got a bit worried about leaving them in the hutch together!

Please keep us posted on how it all goes, and of course post pics we'd love to see them all.

 

[Ambi]

Thanks!
Sorry it took a while to reply, TAFE just started for me so things are hectic!

My Muscovy drake has calmed down a bit now my runner drake isn't living with him and we interact with him one on one more =]
He's still a bit grumpy! Attacked me yesterday =[

As soon as my Muscovy drakes sister starts laying eggs Mum said I can put Oliver(my current only laying Muscovy hen) in with Dex! So he has a girl to hopefully calm him down a bit more =]

He's in a much her happy mood! Thank you for your help!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks!
Sorry it took a while to reply, TAFE just started for me so things are hectic!

My Muscovy drake has calmed down a bit now my runner drake isn't living with him and we interact with him one on one more =]
He's still a bit grumpy! Attacked me yesterday =[

As soon as my Muscovy drakes sister starts laying eggs Mum said I can put Oliver(my current only laying Muscovy hen) in with Dex! So he has a girl to hopefully calm him down a bit more =]


He's in a much her happy mood! Thank you for your help!!

He sure is handsome, they do get grumpy when it's breeding season, just something that goes with having drakes and gander if you happen to have geese too, but eventually they calm down. Glad things are working out better for every one.