How many feather's should be lost in a molt?

[nettie]

My duck Victor has lost several, including his big wing feathers, he seems to have lost a normal amount. (Victor will be 16 Weeks old on the 11th)

Ming Mei has barely lost any and she's two weeks older than Victor. She lost a small bunch of those little fluffy feathers, but hasn't lost any of the big ones. She seems to have a "bald" spot on her where the feathers are not completely absent but kinda thin.

Is this normal? should she be losing big feathers? I thought a molt is when they lose there flight feathers? I read people getting worried about their little ducks losing tons of feathers, but my MinMei hasn't. It usually happens at 9-12 weeks right?

I know my duck has a sense of beauty and walks around knowing she's pretty, i'm thinking she doesn't want to lose her feathers and get ugly! lol

 

[xke4]

I think it varies. It looks like a pillow loaded with white feathers was ripped apart when my Pekin drake molts and yet I have seen one feather only from my 2 year old Khaki Campell drake. Both healthy.

 

[nettie]

is there any difference in how old the ducks are? will an older one lose more or less than a younger one?

 

[xke4]

When my 7 month old Rouen drake molted and got his big boy feathers, it was so gradual, I didn't see a single one in the pen. And we are talking a big bird! My 3 year old Mallard drops a few feathers, my 3 year old Pekin drops buckets and my 2 year old Khaki, none that I can see. Don't know if this is standard.

 

[greyfields]

They lose them all. Just not all at once.

 

[xke4]

I would imagine that all birds molt in order to maintain good feather health but it is funny that I have never found more than one feather from the Campbell in 2 years!

 

[BJ]

Feather loss always scares me, even when I know they are in heavy molt. This seems like an odd time for him to be molting...is he healthy otherwise?

All in all, it is a learning experience each time. Just make sure he is getting lots of protein in his diet and he should be fine.