How to get my ducks to molt

[Abraeri]

Make sure their swim pools have a way for her to get out. I've had a couple get so waterlogged that they couldn't hop out. Luckily I found them before they got too cold.

Yea, I keep an eye on her. Especially since I have a very jealous drake who attempts to mate her whenever she gets in the pool... and then my other male fights him off

 

[Abraeri]

Well you either trust my information or not. My Ducks are the same way. They molt out the down/Body feathers and keep the flight feathers or it's the opposite...

I don't know what you mean by this — in the fall most of my ducks will usually (this year and last year) molt all their flight feathers. Half my flock hasn't, and I am looking for information on why they haven't and how I can get them too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am still waiting for mine to molt some are not very water proof now because their in need of molting . I don’t know what the answer is just wondering if weather plays a part since it’s been so warm here where are you located?

 

[chickens really]

I don't know what you mean by this — in the fall most of my ducks will usually (this year and last year) molt all their flight feathers. Half my flock hasn't, and I am looking for information on why they haven't and how I can get them too.

Because they don't have too ...Your looking for problems where no problems are. I'm trying to help you..

 

[Abraeri]

Because they don't have too ...Your looking for problems where no problems are. I'm trying to help you..

Just to be clear — they basically have no flight feathers. Molting is an annual thing. Ducks are supposed to molt their flight feathers every year (at least from what I've read). They molt to replace damaged and worn feathers; I think it's reasonable to expect that when their feathers are damaged and basically non-existent, they should molting and getting new ones. In the wild it's what they do. I am not looking for problems; I'm trying to understand some odd behavior.

 

[chickens really]

Just to be clear — they basically have no flight feathers. Molting is an annual thing. Ducks are supposed to molt their flight feathers every year (at least from what I've read). They molt to replace damaged and worn feathers; I think it's reasonable to expect that when their feathers are damaged and basically non-existent, they should molting and getting new ones. In the wild it's what they do. I am not looking for problems; I'm trying to understand some odd behavior.

Alright......Best of luck...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe they do need to molt if they are water logged after swimming but only they can do it I can sure tell when mine need to molt they stay wet after swimming and their feathers look ragged. If mine didn’t molt for a couple years I’d be concerned to.

 

[Abraeri]

I am still waiting for mine to molt some are not very water proof now because their in need of molting . I don’t know what the answer is just wondering if weather plays a part since it’s been so warm here where are you located?

I'm in Georgia; it has been pretty warm for this time of year. It's supposed to be fall and we've been getting high 80's. However, three have already molted their flight feathers and have finished or are in the process of regrowing; I've been finding some of one of my drakes fancy flight feathers so I guess he's about to molt too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@casportpony have you ever run across this with your birds?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I only know of 3 of my 7 Runner/ Buffs that have molted none of my Muscovys have even started yet latest it’s ever been were in mountains of NC and still very warm I haven’t even had eggs fro my Muscovys this late and still getting a few eggs and two broody on no eggs and 5 chickens (bantam) broody I think of wed get some nice cool weather things would change fast