My blind duck has wet feather!

[autumn_g]

Hey everybody!
I have 8 muscovys' 3 drakes, 5 hens. We are fairly new duck owners. We just got them about 4 months ago. One of the ducks we got ended up being blind. The person we purchased them from said that she was his "tame" duck, when we got her home we realized she was completely blind. She isn't very good at grooming and her feathers are pretty rough. We have given her several baths and we were able to get her out gland to start producing again, however she still has pretty tattered feathers. With the weather we can only let the other ducks bathe while we are out there watching them so she doesnt get wet. Any advice on treating wet feather on a blind duck that doesnt know how to properly clean, preen, and zip her feathers back together?

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Hi! Congratulations! Your duck is a lovely girl.

This thread may be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/muscovy-drake-is-not-waterproof-need-help.228945/. I know I saw one some time ago about helping a blind duck spread oil from its oil gland onto its feathers - if I recall correctly, someone did it manually to help the duck properly oil itself. I'll keep looking and pop back when I find that thread.

 

[CrystaBub]

Awww it's a shame she's blind - she will never know how beautiful she is!

 

[autumn_g]

Hi! Congratulations! Your duck is a lovely girl.

This thread may be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/muscovy-drake-is-not-waterproof-need-help.228945/. I know I saw one some time ago about helping a blind duck spread oil from its oil gland onto its feathers - if I recall correctly, someone did it manually to help the duck properly oil itself. I'll keep looking and pop back when I find that thread.

Thank you, I would greatly appreciate that. She is absolutely beautiful and a total sweetheart.

 

[autumn_g]

Hi! Congratulations! Your duck is a lovely girl.

This thread may be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/muscovy-drake-is-not-waterproof-need-help.228945/. I know I saw one some time ago about helping a blind duck spread oil from its oil gland onto its feathers - if I recall correctly, someone did it manually to help the duck properly oil itself. I'll keep looking and pop back when I find that thread.

Thank you, I would greatly appreciate that. She is absolutely beautiful and a total sweetheart.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Thank you, I would greatly appreciate that. She is absolutely beautiful and a total sweetheart.

I found a bunch of threads about oil glands that weren't working properly or wet feather, but not specifically about manual oiling (though I came across a post on the web where a person tried coconut oil - but it didn't work).

Following the thread's recommendations for treating wet feather should hopefully help get hers back in shape. I have a visually-impaired Muscovy drake whose feathers sometimes look waterlogged, particularly when he's approaching a molt. He is able to bathe and preen himself, so with good nutrition and TLC (which you've already begun), your duck may be able to preen herself properly...but will probably have to molt out the tattered feathers before prettier ones can come out. Best wishes - will be rooting for both of you!

 

[Miss Lydia]

http://www.majesticwaterfowl.org/artwetfeather2.htm