I'm a new duck owner

[Meeps Mom]

Or a better way of saying that is my ducks are new human owners! I have 2 Welsh harlequins one boy and one girl Max and Nina. They just turned a year old in May I hatch them myself, and I', more than they, are imprinted on them. I love to be outdoors, so I spend all day outside with them. I work for myself, making jewelry, so thats easy to do in the yard, with that said, I know my ducks very well, I've seen them molt before, but I have never , seen her do it like she's doing it now. She has lost all of her feathers on her neck, all of her wing feathers, and most of her Downy feathers I can see her skin and around her neck, it looks real red and raw. The other duck (Max), is not picking on her pulling her feathers. I know that for a fact, I have 8 cameras on my ducks cage and in the coop and I watch constantly when I'm not out here with them. She seems to be eating fine and forging good, but I just don't think this is a normal molt, or, a hot hard molt, for that matter, I just wanted some confirmation, if I'm being too picky or concerned, or I need to take her to the vet? I love my babies and want to provide the best possible care for them,and make sure that they're never in pain. I'm including a picture of what she look like before she started losing her feathers and I'm going to take a picture of what she looks like now. And, all of

her feather loss has taken place in one week.
Thanks for any help or insight!!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I hope that the duck peeps will be able to provide some insight.

 

[lomine]

Looks like damage from mating. I've got one hen that seems to be the favorite for mating and had similar damage. I separated her from the flock (foot injury) for a couple weeks and all the neck feathers started growing back. I hatched out eggs this year to add more hens to help with the over-mating. I had 7 hens with 2 drakes but I'll be keeping at least 2 more hens (maybe more I haven't decided).

I suggest getting some more hens for your little flock. Whether you go with sexed ducklings or some the same age is up to you. I'd say 2 more at minimum. The other advantage to adding more is you wouldn't be scrambling to find another companion should something happen to one your ducks.

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome Nice to have you here! Your ducks are beautiful, even when molting. I don’t have ducks but if your boy isn’t the culprit check her over for external parasites. My chickens have odd molts some years, sometimes I think someone or something plucked or attacked them but know it’s not the case. Maybe check in with the duck folks?