Muscovy duckling

[Kyahpike]

Hi, this is my 8.5 week old Muscovy duckling. I am confused as to why he hasn’t developed any feathers yet as my research says he should’ve by now. Does anyone know why? He is the black one

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hi, this is my 8.5 week old Muscovy duckling. I am confused as to why he hasn’t developed any feathers yet as my research says he should’ve by now. Does anyone know why? He is the black one

View attachment 3476732

That's odd. What feed are they on? What percent protein?

 

[Kyahpike]

That's odd. What feed are they on? What percent protein?

They get watermelon, lettuce, berries, seed and pellets

 

[Kyahpike]

They get watermelon, lettuce, berries, seed and pellets

I also give them dried meal worms

 

[BelovedBirds]

They get watermelon, lettuce, berries, seed and pellets

I'd cut treats out for now, including seed, it may be watering down the nutrients in the main feed
What kind of pellets are they on?

 

[Kyahpike]

I'd cut treats out for now, including seed, it may be watering down the nutrients in the main feed
What kind of pellets are they on?

Ok no worries. They are on free range layer pellets.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Ok no worries. They are on free range layer pellets.

That could also be a problem
Layer pellets contain calcium, and that's too much for ducklings
Could you switch them to a different feed? Something made for ducklings?
Worst case scenario, chick crumbles supplemented with nutrional yeast (1tbsp per cup, to get the niacin level correct) would work.
I think this is likely a nutrients issue, if you're able to change their feed, that might help

 

[Kyahpike]

Ok no worries. They are on free range layer pellets.

That could also be a problem
Layer pellets contain calcium, and that's too much for ducklings
Could you switch them to a different feed? Something made for ducklings?
Worst case scenario, chick crumbles supplemented with nutrional yeast (1tbsp per cup, to get the niacin level correct) would work.
I think this is likely a nutrients issue, if you're able to change their feed, that might help

Thank you so much. I’ll give that a go

 

[bhaugh]

Does he have any true feathers?

 

[Kyahpike]

Does he have any true feathers?

I’m not sure what true feathers are sorry. It’s all fluff except for his stomach which are small course feathers.