Storey's Guide points out that external parasites can be seen, though sometimes mites only come out at night.
In good light, look all over, including under the wings, around the oil gland, around the vent.
If it's parasites, here is what the book says:
treatments include olive oil, pulverized dry tobacco leaves, organic apple cider diluted 50% with water, or commercial insecticidal preparations such as Sevin, Malathion, or Mange & Lice Control. To be effective, these products need to be worked into the feathers of the head, neck, wings, upper back, tail and vent. (Amiga's added emphasis here - ) When dusting or spraying with an insecticide, be extremely careful not to contaminate water or feed.
Back to Amiga's voice here. I agree that if it's just one duck, that doesn't sound like parasites. On the other hand, in my experience, some ducks are more susceptible to problems. And I think that's because they have different needs than the others. Those needs may change, also, so that a formerly robust duck goes through a season of needing more vitamins, or warmer temperatures, to thrive, then they may bounce back. That has happened so many times with my runners I cannot recount them. Extra calcium, extra warmth, extra time in a lukewarm bath . . . the reward is that the duck is not stressed and possibly lost, after all the effort to care for them.
Wish we had a camera on them at night, to see if someone's harassing the duck and pulling its feathers. Duck social structure is subtle, complex, sophisticated. And sometimes just weird.
In good light, look all over, including under the wings, around the oil gland, around the vent.
If it's parasites, here is what the book says:
treatments include olive oil, pulverized dry tobacco leaves, organic apple cider diluted 50% with water, or commercial insecticidal preparations such as Sevin, Malathion, or Mange & Lice Control. To be effective, these products need to be worked into the feathers of the head, neck, wings, upper back, tail and vent. (Amiga's added emphasis here - ) When dusting or spraying with an insecticide, be extremely careful not to contaminate water or feed.
Back to Amiga's voice here. I agree that if it's just one duck, that doesn't sound like parasites. On the other hand, in my experience, some ducks are more susceptible to problems. And I think that's because they have different needs than the others. Those needs may change, also, so that a formerly robust duck goes through a season of needing more vitamins, or warmer temperatures, to thrive, then they may bounce back. That has happened so many times with my runners I cannot recount them. Extra calcium, extra warmth, extra time in a lukewarm bath . . . the reward is that the duck is not stressed and possibly lost, after all the effort to care for them.
Wish we had a camera on them at night, to see if someone's harassing the duck and pulling its feathers. Duck social structure is subtle, complex, sophisticated. And sometimes just weird.
