Indian Runner Ducks look like drowned rats - advice, please

[BornToQuack]

Portland's rainy season is just starting to really kick in (typically starts closer to mid-October), and our Indian Runner Ducks look like drowned rats! They have plenty of places to get out of the rain, but seem happy hanging out in the cold, wet, mush that is our backyard.

My question is: do Indian Runner Ducks have a different type of water repellent oil than say Mallards, or do we need to supplement their diet so water rolls off?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[PirateGirl]

Hmm... one thought, dirty feathers don't repel water as well, and you currently have a lot of mud. Perhaps a bath/swim in the cleanest water you can get them would help some.

 

[casportpony]

When was their last molt?

 

[BornToQuack]

When was their last molt?

They went through their juvenile molt in July and then their first adult molt shortly thereafter. Could they be getting ready to molt again?

 

[casportpony]

They went through their juvenile molt in July and then their first adult molt shortly thereafter. Could they be getting ready to molt again?

I wouldn't think so, but maybe?

 

[BornToQuack]

Hmm... one thought, dirty feathers don't repel water as well, and you currently have a lot of mud. Perhaps a bath/swim in the cleanest water you can get them would help some.

Good point! Unfortunately mud is the norm around here for about seven months or so out of the year. They also haven't been swimming in their pool much the past few days, because we got a freak snowstorm over the weekend that froze it over. We kept breaking up the ice, but either they weren't up for doing a polar plunge, or the remaining ice fragments weirded them out too much.

Everything is thawed and we're back to rain now, so hopefully they'll start swimming again.

 

[thumper650]

Sometimes I throw a few peas or mealworms to encourage them to bathe. I try to get them in and out early as possible, so they can dry off before it gets cold.

 

[PirateGirl]

Sometimes I throw a few peas or mealworms to encourage them to bathe. I try to get them in and out early as possible, so they can dry off before it gets cold.

before it gets cold but where I live it's ALWAYS cold. I let my flock swim recently for the first time in awhile because it got to about 30*F, they LOVED it, and I really can't believe how much better their feathers looked after a good bath. I really need to set them up again for one.

 

[thumper650]

We get some random 40 degree days. My warm I mean above freezing

 

[Kkrista123]

Anyone thinking they might have a touch of wet feather?