Help with ragged feathers and torn feet

[Vickers58]

If you look closely you can see Richards ugly and torn wing feathers and rough and torn webs. We rescued Richard from a man(who told me she was a drake) and she was in terrible shape.

If anyone has any idea about what's going on with our runner girls feathers.... Please let me know! Poor girl.... But she sure thinks she's sexy no matter her funky feathers.... Will this get remedied when she molts? And how often do ducks molt?

Is there anything I can do about her feet? She hasn't had any injuries since we got her and they don't seem to bother her... Oh but the looks I get.... People think I'm responsible for her looking like she lives in a dumpster!! She's in WAY better shape since we adopted her!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I'd say that if she were mine, I'd make sure she was getting a good balanced feed for the amino acids and vitamins, plus as long is she is not overweight, I would bump up her protein just a little for a week or two. But not too long, bcz excess protein can cause problems down the road. I would add some chopped hard boiled egg yolks to her feed.
Now for the feet, I'd do Epsom Salt soaks. Just make up a tub with a weak solution and let her hang out in that for a few times every day. But don't allow her to drink it! If its not bothering her, then I guess I wouldn't worry too much about that, but if you are located someplace with cold winters, you want her feathers in good shape for winter.

 

[JoyAnna]

My Pebbles, an Ancona mixed, came to me in August last year from a most unwholsome situation. Her partner is a lovely Ancona specimen, but Pebbles feathers looked terrible. I have fed them organic Scratch and Peck feed, let them forage around the yard, with a kiddie pool to bath and play in. Her feathers just never improved—until a month or so ago when she injured herself going down the deck steps and I had to keep her inside for a few day for warm baths and ES soaks. When she got back outside, she finally molted all those horrible feathers, even the large flight feathers. They are beginning to grow back in and she finally is showing herself to be a really pretty duck. Just wish they would hurry up and begin to lay again. I sure miss those two-egg days.