Molting again

[Diamond88]

A question for the duck experts.

My one-year-old call duck had her first molt about three months ago, and now she appears to be molting again. Although she doesn't seem as itchy this time, there are feathers everywhere! I'm just wondering, is it normal and/or safe for her to be molting again so soon?

I also wonder if the molts could both be related to stress. Her first molt three months ago started right after we moved from Chicago to LA, spending six days in a car and every night in new hotel rooms, and then staying in a new house. Obviously, she was outside her comfort zone at that time. Now, this current molt started right after my boyfriend and I had to leave her alone for a few days while we were out of town. Is it just a coincidence that she's molting after these presumably difficult times, or might it be stress?

Is there anything I can do to help my poor girl out?

Thank you!

 

[Speceider]

If she's a year bold, she has already molted 3 times...juvenile...first basic...first alternate.....and now is time to start second alternate if she has dropped her primaries...and yes stress can accelerate molt.....

Clint

 

[Diamond88]

Thanks, Clint! I guess, yeah, I didn't think about the molts that were due to her changing feather types as she matured. So you're saying it's fine for her to have molted in early March and again in late May?

 

[Diamond88]

A quick amendment to the thread: I realized that my first post in this particular thread sounds a bit like I don't provide adequate care for my duck. However, I think that many of the frequent posters here are familiar with me and my duck Bunny. Even though, yes, admittedly she is a "single duck," she is far from lonely or neglected. My boyfriend and I are both home with her almost 24/7, and she is the center of our universe. Our days tend to revolve around Bunny. Recently, due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to leave her alone for three days, and let me tell you, those three days were more stressful for us than they were for her! I never stopped worrying about her and could barely sleep. (Obviously, if she'd had to be alone for any longer, we would've boarded her with an avian vet.) She is a pampered pet, and while I don't mean to discredit anyone who strongly feels that ducks are best kept in flocks on an outdoor pond, all I'm saying is that Bunny is a very happy duck, and we spoil her to no end.

So, aside from the recent three days when she was alone (with an abundance of food and water, both natural and artificial sunlight, and the TV set to Animal Planet), we've always done our utmost to entertain and pamper Bunny, including during our move from IL to CA. Just wanted to make that known, because I realized my initial post sounded like we just threw her in the back of a van and hoped for the best, which couldn't be further from the truth!

Nevertheless, I don't doubt that the move was stressful for her, as was being alone for three days recently. Since we've been back, she's gotten lots of outdoor playtime, peas and lettuce, and hugs and kisses (okay, maybe she's not a big fan of the hugs and kisses...) but I know that she's still dealing with the stress.

So, I'm just worried that the stress might be causing this molt/feather loss. My question is whether or not it's safe for her to be molting again, so soon after the last molt. I've never owned any ducks before Bunny, but from my research, I thought ducks never molt more than twice per year (excluding the rapid duckling growth phase, as Clint mentioned, above). At the rate she's going, she's set to molt four times this year!

Is everything okay, or is there something I should be doing for her? Thank you for weighing in, all of you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

A quick amendment to the thread: I realized that my first post in this particular thread sounds a bit like I don't provide adequate care for my duck. However, I think that many of the frequent posters here are familiar with me and my duck Bunny. Even though, yes, admittedly she is a "single duck," she is far from lonely or neglected. My boyfriend and I are both home with her almost 24/7, and she is the center of our universe. Our days tend to revolve around Bunny. Recently, due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to leave her alone for three days, and let me tell you, those three days were more stressful for us than they were for her! I never stopped worrying about her and could barely sleep. (Obviously, if she'd had to be alone for any longer, we would've boarded her with an avian vet.) She is a pampered pet, and while I don't mean to discredit anyone who strongly feels that ducks are best kept in flocks on an outdoor pond, all I'm saying is that Bunny is a very happy duck, and we spoil her to no end.

So, aside from the recent three days when she was alone (with an abundance of food and water, both natural and artificial sunlight, and the TV set to Animal Planet), we've always done our utmost to entertain and pamper Bunny, including during our move from IL to CA. Just wanted to make that known, because I realized my initial post sounded like we just threw her in the back of a van and hoped for the best, which couldn't be further from the truth!

Nevertheless, I don't doubt that the move was stressful for her, as was being alone for three days recently. Since we've been back, she's gotten lots of outdoor playtime, peas and lettuce, and hugs and kisses (okay, maybe she's not a big fan of the hugs and kisses...) but I know that she's still dealing with the stress.

So, I'm just worried that the stress might be causing this molt/feather loss. My question is whether or not it's safe for her to be molting again, so soon after the last molt. I've never owned any ducks before Bunny, but from my research, I thought ducks never molt more than twice per year (excluding the rapid duckling growth phase, as Clint mentioned, above). At the rate she's going, she's set to molt four times this year!

Is everything okay, or is there something I should be doing for her? Thank you for weighing in, all of you

Try giving her some Poultry vitamins added to her water. Nutri Drench is a good one and there are others too. When mine are molting that's what I do for them.

 

[Speceider]

there's really nothing unusual. She is entering her 2nd prebasic molt....will molt, drop her primaries, and at some point enter her second prealternate molt. Yes, the stress probably triggered the prebasic molt, but I seriously doubt she will have more than 2 molts per year. They are in alternate plumage for breeding...no drake...no breeding+stress...start prebasic molt....

Clint

 

[Diamond88]

Great, thanks! I'm glad to know it's normal.