Laundry detergent and ducks

[Tannerpauldean]

So I have one of those old plumbing systems where my home’s grey water drains into the yard. I was doing laundry today and noticed one of my Pekins playing in the puddle near the drainpipe. I already use natural detergents free of dyes, fragrance, and phosphates (so I’m not worried about toxicity). But now it seems like the detergent has removed much of his natural oils from his feathers. Should I be worried about wet feather? Or will he be able to work more oils into the feathers fairly easily? Thanks for any advice!

 

[Tannerpauldean]

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is what they use to remove oil off of birds in oil spills dawn dish detergent so hopefully he’ll preen the oil back where it’s missing. not much else you can do besides fence off the area and keep your ducks out. Do you notice him using his oil gland and no preening?

 

[Tannerpauldean]

That is what they use to remove oil off of birds in oil spills dawn dish detergent so hopefully he’ll preen the oil back where it’s missing. not much else you can do besides fence off the area and keep your ducks out. Do you notice him using his oil gland and no preening?

I haven’t seen him using his gland yet, mostly just waddling around trying to shake the water off. I’ll keep watching. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Usually once they bathe or play in water the next thing is clean up by spreading the oil all over on their feathers. He’ll probably start soon