Imprinted Duck not preening his wing feathers

[Alycea]

Hello all
This is a new one for me. So curious if anyone out there has some ideas or knowledge.

I have a male piebald duck, part mallard part call duck, that is imprinted on me. He is a couple months shy of being 1 year old.

He preens, particularly his chest feathers. I have literally just now seen him use his head to get oil from his gland and preen his side feathers. But, his wing flight feathers are dirty and bedraggled, as is his tail feathers (the ones that wing outward) though not as bedraggles. He is not preening these.

So, you will ask - yes he has access to clean water 24/7. He does hate swimming. If I put him in a paddling pool he literally dog paddles. This is/was true of my other imprinted duck. She does this and still does, but she has no problem washing and then preening from a bowl of water. She has always done. But our young Gabby, varies in terms of washing. Maybe once a week he goes to town and has a full on fling it about bath, from a bowl. But he always seems to neglect his flight feathers.

The rest he maintains well and normally. Oh yes, and he can fly, with no issue. So, why is he neglecting his wings and tail and not the rest? Any one come across this before? He eats normally, talks normally, follows me about or hangs with the other ducks. There are no adverse things going on other than the wing thing.

And last detail, he was hatched here at our place, but was abandoned by his Mum when he developed niacin deficiency symptoms. We took him in and gave him niacin and he recovered, and imprinted as a consequence. So possibly something in the niacin deficiency when young may be part of it? No idea. I have never seen this before and we have had ducks for going on 8 years now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe the reason his feathers are looking beraggled is he is in need of molting? As for preening, I'm not sure why he doesn't preen all his feathers. I've seen my ducks preen after bathing but never really paid much attention to how much they preen their flight feathers and tail feathers. Maybe if molt is coming up he'll begin to preen those new feathers when they grow back in.

 

[Alycea]

Maybe the reason his feathers are looking beraggled is he is in need of molting? As for preening, I'm not sure why he doesn't preen all his feathers. I've seen my ducks preen after bathing but never really paid much attention to how much they preen their flight feathers and tail feathers. Maybe if molt is coming up he'll begin to preen those new feathers when they grow back in.

Hi Miss Lydia. Very potentially an idea. I haven't seen any signs of moulting as yet, but you never know.

 

[KaleIAm]

I've been having this problem ongoing in my older pekin for nearly 3 years. She isn't imprinted, and is 7 now. So, obviously we have some differences and the cause could be different, too. But it presents exactly the same.

I've been working with multiple veterinarians to solve this mystery and finally her veterinarian has decided the arthritis in her feet/body makes it painful for her to preen. And since she doesn't preen well her feather quality goes down.

My duck is now on pain medication daily for the rest of her life. Hopefully next time she molts her feathers will grow in well and she will be able to take care of them.

Hopefully this isn't the reason for your duck. I'm unaware of the long term consequences of niacin deficiency.

 

[Alycea]

I've been having this problem ongoing in my older pekin for nearly 3 years. She isn't imprinted, and is 7 now. So, obviously we have some differences and the cause could be different, too. But it presents exactly the same.

I've been working with multiple veterinarians to solve this mystery and finally her veterinarian has decided the arthritis in her feet/body makes it painful for her to preen. And since she doesn't preen well her feather quality goes down.

My duck is now on pain medication daily for the rest of her life. Hopefully next time she molts her feathers will grow in well and she will be able to take care of them.

Hopefully this isn't the reason for your duck. I'm unaware of the long term consequences of niacin deficiency.

Thanks KalelAm, I hadn't thought of arthritis because of his age, but you never know. Out of curiosity, what is the pain medication and how do you give it? Liquid form in water bowl?

Niacin deficiency effects can vary. I have Gabby and another duck, now almost 5, that lack more than the others. Limping is one of the most common signs, but as this is mating season it is not necessarily a lack of niacin that causes the limping. Still, I give them a boost for a little while if I see limping. (And check for bumblefoot.)

 

[KaleIAm]

The medication I give is Metacam liquid. I give it by mouth with a syringe twice daily. It is usually a once daily medication, but my duck wasn't getting enough relief, so her vet increased the frequency. It is available by prescription only, I believe - but some people substitute other anti inflammatory meds.

I'm not sure I would go the pain reliever route on such a young duck without radiographs showing osteoarthritis. I'm sure a young duck can have arthritis from injury, after all I have had arthritis since I was 23 and shattered my hand/wrist. I'm curious if developing incorrectly from a niacin deficiency might be similar to an injury and sometimes cause long term damage/ pain. I'm speculating. Btw, my duck has had radiographs showing arthritis.

Have you checked his preen gland to see if it is healthy?

 

[Alycea]

The medication I give is Metacam liquid. I give it by mouth with a syringe twice daily. It is usually a once daily medication, but my duck wasn't getting enough relief, so her vet increased the frequency. It is available by prescription only, I believe - but some people substitute other anti inflammatory meds.

I'm not sure I would go the pain reliever route on such a young duck without radiographs showing osteoarthritis. I'm sure a young duck can have arthritis from injury, after all I have had arthritis since I was 23 and shattered my hand/wrist. I'm curious if developing incorrectly from a niacin deficiency might be similar to an injury and sometimes cause long term damage/ pain. I'm speculating. Btw, my duck has had radiographs showing arthritis.

Have you checked his preen gland to see if it is healthy?

Thanks. We do not have an avian vet anywhere near us. Birds are considered exotic and vets must be certified as an exotic animal vet here. We have 3 in the country (France), none remotely near us. Our local vet will help with prescribing, but will not x-ray or otherwise treat, such as surgery, as it's outside her knowledge.

Yes, niacin deficiency can cause long term issues - at least from my experience - in that the ducks we have that have issues are really just the two that I know lack in it. Our little Beepbeep (the 5 year old) is going blind. She has lost most of her sight now, but can see shadows and light variations. She is able to get around amazingly and looks after herself well. (Including her feathers.) But she has always been the odd duck out, since being a duckling.

And thank you for the suggestion for checking his preening gland. I have no idea why I hadn't thought to do this. Doh. Not sure what to look for, or what to do depending on what I find, so any enlightenment appreciated.

 

[KaleIAm]

Thanks. We do not have an avian vet anywhere near us. Birds are considered exotic and vets must be certified as an exotic animal vet here. We have 3 in the country (France), none remotely near us. Our local vet will help with prescribing, but will not x-ray or otherwise treat, such as surgery, as it's outside her knowledge.

Yes, niacin deficiency can cause long term issues - at least from my experience - in that the ducks we have that have issues are really just the two that I know lack in it. Our little Beepbeep (the 5 year old) is going blind. She has lost most of her sight now, but can see shadows and light variations. She is able to get around amazingly and looks after herself well. (Including her feathers.) But she has always been the odd duck out, since being a duckling.

And thank you for the suggestion for checking his preening gland. I have no idea why I hadn't thought to do this. Doh. Not sure what to look for, or what to do depending on what I find, so any enlightenment appreciated.

Oh wow, 3 avian vets in all of France?! There are about 9 avian vets at my preferred avian clinic! I'm so spoiled! In that case if you think it could be pain you could always give him a 2 week trial of medication and see if he preens better. His feather quality might not improve much until he molts.

I'll take a photo of my duck's preen gland for you tomorrow, when she's up. Our vet just looked at it a few days ago, and said it was healthy. Whenever I check it out I always touch it and make sure it I can feel a little oil when I rub my fingers together, too.

Sorry to hear about BeepBeep. She sounds very brave!

 

[Alycea]

Oh wow, 3 avian vets in all of France?! There are about 9 avian vets at my preferred avian clinic! I'm so spoiled! In that case if you think it could be pain you could always give him a 2 week trial of medication and see if he preens better. His feather quality might not improve much until he molts.

I'll take a photo of my duck's preen gland for you tomorrow, when she's up. Our vet just looked at it a few days ago, and said it was healthy. Whenever I check it out I always touch it and make sure it I can feel a little oil when I rub my fingers together, too.

Sorry to hear about BeepBeep. She sounds very brave!

We do know of a vet about an hour and a half away that knows a bit about birds, as he has pet ducks of his own. So in an emergency...

Ducks and Chickens are are very much farm animals (not pets) here so there are specialist farm vets, but more on the basis of herds of cows, horses, or a whole flock then saving or treating an individual bird. So even though our ducks are pets, especially the imprinted ones, we have to take a more hands on approach, as well as a 'such is life' view.

Before medicating, I think I will wait to see if it is mating season (for a young teenager) that is causing him to neglect his feather, or an actual moult (though it is early for that here, normally that occurs in August), whilst generally keeping an eye on him. He had a good preen last night, except for the flight feathers and tail still, so at least he is preening. And those feathers look good. It's just weird.

Would love to see the picture, if you will. That would be really helpful.

Beepbeep is great. It came on gradually and we make sure not to move things in the duck enclosure and try not to do so often in the garden, so she gets around very well. You wouldn't know she is blind to see or watch her

If interested: 'Living with a blind duck' https://www.pumpjackpiddlewick.com/blind-duck/

And thanks again for all your help!

 

[KaleIAm]

We do know of a vet about an hour and a half away that knows a bit about birds, as he has pet ducks of his own. So in an emergency...

Ducks and Chickens are are very much farm animals (not pets) here so there are specialist farm vets, but more on the basis of herds of cows, horses, or a whole flock then saving or treating an individual bird. So even though our ducks are pets, especially the imprinted ones, we have to take a more hands on approach, as well as a 'such is life' view.

Before medicating, I think I will wait to see if it is mating season (for a young teenager) that is causing him to neglect his feather, or an actual moult (though it is early for that here, normally that occurs in August), whilst generally keeping an eye on him. He had a good preen last night, except for the flight feathers and tail still, so at least he is preening. And those feathers look good. It's just weird.

Would love to see the picture, if you will. That would be really helpful.

Beepbeep is great. It came on gradually and we make sure not to move things in the duck enclosure and try not to do so often in the garden, so she gets around very well. You wouldn't know she is blind to see or watch her

If interested: 'Living with a blind duck' https://www.pumpjackpiddlewick.com/blind-duck/

And thanks again for all your help!

I loved reading about BeepBeep!! My ducks also come running when they see a shovel. I love gardening with them.

Attached are photos of my duck I took just now. One of her terrible flight feathers. She just had a bath yesterday, inside the house in a bathtub in perfectly clean water. She lives in a perfectly clean barn with an attached grassy aviary - so she has no excuse to look like a neglected duck.

The other is of her preen gland. You can see the skin of the, "bump," is healthy pink like the rest of her skin with a little yellow oil on it.

Another thing my vets inquired about when I asked them about my duck's feather quality is her diet. So I suspect the quality of food is another thing to consider.