Is this normal on a duckling?

[lovelyducklings]

is this just from him grooming himself or should I be worried?

 

[Amykins]

...No, I would not say that's normal. He's a wee thing, so he shouldn't be fledging yet. Do you see him picking at his belly fluff? What's their substrate look like? Maybe it's a bit too abrasive for him. Does he scoot on his tummy a lot like he's reluctant to walk? Is he otherwise behaving normally, eating, drinking etc?

 

[lovelyducklings]

...No, I would not say that's normal. He's a wee thing, so he shouldn't be fledging yet. Do you see him picking at his belly fluff? What's their substrate look like? Maybe it's a bit too abrasive for him. Does he scoot on his tummy a lot like he's reluctant to walk? Is he otherwise behaving normally, eating, drinking etc?

it's a cloth but I think it could be a little too "hard" and rough now after being used again and again. and yes sometimes she'll scoot on her stomach but only when I'll let her walk on the ground outside and it's only if she's trying to move a little. she is eating and drinking perfectly though. it's actually gotten a little better, I don't know if it's because she was a little wet but it looks way better

 

[Orca5094]

Does this duckling have leg problems? Is that why it scoots along the ground when outside? If so, that would be why it's getting the bald spot there, from scooting around on the ground and rubbing off the baby fluff. You'll want to watch that and make sure this duckling is always on very soft/clean surfaces so this area doesn't become an open abrasion and potentially become infected. Right now it's nothing serious at all, but it could become that way in the future. And yes, things like this always look worse when they're wet.

 

[lovelyducklings]

no she doesn't have leg problems, her brother/sister does the same thing when they're on grass but it's only when they're in one place, so it's nothing major. it could just be the cloth, I felt it and it has become rough /:

 

[Orca5094]

Ok, that sounds like the problem then. Easy fix to just give them a new, softer cloth.