My pekin drake has lost alot of feathers on wings? Mainly one wing?

[Bish]

Hi,
My pekin drake has lost quite a few feathers on his wings, mainly on one though, and they are looking a little mangy, just look like sticks at the end. See picture below. Sorry it isn't very clear. Is this normal ? He is nearly 2 years old. He doesn't live with any other ducks so he isn't being pecked at.
He eats duck pellets, fresh fruit (grapes, apples) and veges (lettuce, tomato, mushroom) and I top his veges with brewers yeast. So I assume he isn't lacking nutrition is he?
Please help!

 

[Amiga]

Hi, Bish!

Is he due for a molt?

 

[Bish]

I am not too sure. I have not seen this happen to him before. He has been like this for a couple months atleast now. How often do they molt?

 

[Amiga]

Mine generally molt at least once a year.

Can you look really closely at the base of the feathers for mites?

Has he experienced any emotional trauma in the last couple of months? Could there by a narrow passageway he likes to pass through?

 

[Bish]

This questions might sound silly. But where could he catch mites from?

No emotional trauma that I know of. He has a massive backyard and pen so I cannot think of any thing. I highly doubt it anyway.

 

[Amiga]

I know we had a few mites show up in the night pen last year. I saw them early, pulled out the straw bale they seemed to gravitate to, pulled out the bedding, put down DE especially in the corners, and I haven't seen any.

 

[Bish]

Can you see them with the naked eye? I might have to change his bedding and give him a thorough check over.

 

[Amiga]

If one has good eyes, I think yes. I wear my readers when checking. I think I recall Storey's Guide saying that at least some of them are tan in color.

 

[Amiga]

So you don't see him pulling on his own feathers out of boredom or anything? I had a loco kitty once who would hide behind the door and pull his own fur out by the mouthful. He had hyperaesthesia. We gave him cortisone shots and that got him through.

 

[Bish]

No I never see him plucking his feathers, just his normal grooming procedure after a swim, that's it.
I am thinking I might have to treat him for mites/lice just in case. The vets here where I live know nothing about poultry so it's hard.
Just to be safe today I think I will have to change all his straw bedding and head to the local pet store for some mites/lice powder. I don't want it to go untreated if he does have them.
What do u think? Is that my safest bet?