Muscovy questions

[Betsyfet]

I just rescued a Muscovy duck from a farmer who didn’t want her. She was crusted with a hard layer over her feathers, her feathers are very tattered, she was covered in mites and fleas and a few ticks, and has one foot turned in from lack of proper food.
I’ve bathed her twice and think I’ve gotten rid of all the bugs and I’ve been giving her extra vitamins. I’ve only had her two days.
I have a few questions.
1. Do you think she could have a problem with her preening gland since she was so crusty (she still has a little of a hard layer after two baths)? Is that the gland above the tail?? She fans her tail out and I can see a bright yellow spot that looked enlarged but when I went to take a picture it wasn’t. It was harder to find.
2.Her caruncle is red but her beak is white and pink. Is this normal? Just wanting to make sure she’s internally ok.
3 Have you heard of a duck with a turned in foot getting better with niacin etc at 1-1/2 years age or is she pretty much set like that for life?

 

[Isaac 0]

Bathing her in water isn't going to completely resolve the mite problem. You need to either spray her down with a Premertrin Based livestock spray, or dust her down with a garden-poultry dust. You'll also need to dust/spray down the entire coop, and change the bedding. Repeat after seven days since this process won't kill the eggs.

I use this brand,

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-permethrin-10-livestock-and-premise-spray-32-oz

Yes, that is her oil gland. It can get clogged due to lack of proper bathing, I would probably start off by applying a warm compress to the area several times a day as to loosen the gunk.

Her bill looks fine to me.

You can start administering B vitamins, specifically niacin (B3), and it may help, but at her age its not likely to completely resolve the problem.

 

[Betsyfet]

Thank you.
I’ve used a huge amount of dish soap in the past and it’s done the trick better than any dusting powder, but I did follow up with diatomaceous earth on her and around her. I won’t put her in my coop until I know she’s clear.
I’ll try the warm compress. Thanks.

 

[Isaac 0]

Thank you.
I’ve used a huge amount of dish soap in the past and it’s done the trick better than any dusting powder, but I did follow up with diatomaceous earth on her and around her. I won’t put her in my coop until I know she’s clear.
I’ll try the warm compress. Thanks.

The problem with soap is it strips the natural oils off her feathers, and the problem with DE is its minimally effective in the control of ectoparasites.

Best of luck.

 

[blackforestbirds]

Thank you.
I’ve used a huge amount of dish soap in the past and it’s done the trick better than any dusting powder, but I did follow up with diatomaceous earth on her and around her. I won’t put her in my coop until I know she’s clear.
I’ll try the warm compress. Thanks.

Hi, I hope you'll see this post. I just wanted to check in and see how your rescue hen is doing. I was so sad to read about her mistreatment. Bless you for saving her! I hope you're both doing well.