My tailess Call duck Story, (graphic pics included)

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Well I'm thinking I may have a problem with him and his problem is I believe his oil gland is gone. When I took him outside to run around like yesterday, he decides he's going to jump in the pool. So I'm watching him closely, his little feet are going a hundred miles a minute compared to the others that were just floating. I also noticed his fur was sucking up the water just like a sponge, and I could slowly see him starting to get lower and lower. Then he tried to jump out of the pool and struggled, I helped him out but his baby fur was drenched. then he fell into some mud and the white on his chest was black, so he turned into a black duck instead of a bibbed. LOL

So I got the hose and did a mist to try and help him get some of the mud off and noticed the water was not bubbling and rolling off of him. it just stayed on him and melted into his fur. So this tells me, One he's not ready for swimming, two possibly his oil gland is gone and we could have future swimming problems... But other then that, he seems like a perfectly tailless duck.. LOL Still picking on the chickens feet though.
 
You know, I wonder if that's what caused the infection in the first place. It would explain why it happened right on the tail, and also why it came off so easily - if it became inflamed it could have cut off circulation to the rest of the tail.
 
at almost 4 weeks my babies still get waterlogged....i put them in knee deep water in the tub each day when i'm cleaning the brooder and i have to let the water out so they can preen and dry before going back in...no sense putting them in wet since it just makes it messy faster...but they do leave a NASTY oil ring around the tub, so i guess they are working on it...plus they are starting to get some feathers so hopefully ill have some floaters soon, i can't wait to take them swimming in the creek!
 
I wonder if there's some kind of substitute oil you can get because he will need it to keep his feathers in good condition as he grows up.

You might want to research this issue so you're ready for when he grows up. I'm sure he's not the first domestic duck to have a preen oil loss issue.

EDITED: Perhaps something like this can help him when he grows feathers?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bio-oil.htm
 
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Awwww! Please take photos when you do! <3

Also, as a first-time duck owner, I have to ask - is the creek on your property? If not, how do you know the 'lings will come back to you when it's time to go? I want to be able to take my duck to the river and lakes around my city (living in the northwest is awesome for that) but I worry that unless I keep 'em on a harness I'll have trouble getting them back!
 
Well I noticed he's very slow at getting feathers my others already have chest feathers and wing feathers are coming in but him just barely starting
 
desertdarlene said:
I wonder if there's some kind of substitute oil you can get because he will need it to keep his feathers in good condition as he grows up.

You might want to research this issue so you're ready for when he grows up. I'm sure he's not the first domestic duck to have a preen oil loss issue.

EDITED: Perhaps something like this can help him when he grows feathers?

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bio-oil.htm
Click to expand...
OMG I had no idea someone created that stuff!!! I have a lame duck that sometimes gets stuck in the pool...and she gets waterlogged. I have to blow-dry her before putting her in the coop. I will have to get some to put on her!
 

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