Persistent preen gland issues! Please help.

[maggies_farm]

For almost a year, I've been having issues with two of my ducks' oil glands. I do warm compresses once a day (have upped this to twice a day recently) and the gland will go back to normal for a while, only to have the issue arise again a few days or weeks later. The gland will be hard and slightly swollen, though not red or dirty, and it doesn't seem to cause them discomfort when I touch it. The warm compresses will often draw out small, hard-ish orange bits followed by yellow, then clear fluid.

- Both birds are active, good layers, and not water shy.
- I have 10 hens (no drakes currently). Only the 2 Cayugas (both from a hatchery) are affected, one much more so than the other.
- They have a large roaming area and nighttime coop, so no overcrowding. Their coop is cleaned regularly.
- The water in their kiddie pools is changed daily
- Their diet is vegetables from the garden, scraps I bring home from the restaurant kitchen, and Purina duck feed. I am switching over to Mazuri duck feed once I've finished this last bag of Purina.
- I do not have access to an avian vet

I feel terrible for my girls, plus I am sick of duck butt massage being part of my morning chores (and so are they). Any advice would be so appreciated!!

 

[BelovedBirds]

For almost a year, I've been having issues with two of my ducks' oil glands. I do warm compresses once a day (have upped this to twice a day recently) and the gland will go back to normal for a while, only to have the issue arise again a few days or weeks later. The gland will be hard and slightly swollen, though not red or dirty, and it doesn't seem to cause them discomfort when I touch it. The warm compresses will often draw out small, hard-ish orange bits followed by yellow, then clear fluid.

- Both birds are active, good layers, and not water shy.
- I have 10 hens (no drakes currently). Only the 2 Cayugas (both from a hatchery) are affected, one much more so than the other.
- They have a large roaming area and nighttime coop, so no overcrowding. Their coop is cleaned regularly.
- The water in their kiddie pools is changed daily
- Their diet is vegetables from the garden, scraps I bring home from the restaurant kitchen, and Purina duck feed. I am switching over to Mazuri duck feed once I've finished this last bag of Purina.
- I do not have access to an avian vet

I feel terrible for my girls, plus I am sick of duck butt massage being part of my morning chores (and so are they). Any advice would be so appreciated!!

Can you post pictures?
Do they have access to water to bathe in?

 

[maggies_farm]

Can you post pictures?
Do they have access to water to bathe in?

Yes, they have kiddie pools which are changed daily.
I'll try and get a picture today when I do their compress

 

[maggies_farm]

Yes, they have kiddie pools which are changed daily.
I'll try and get a picture today when I do their compress

Unable to get pictures, unfortunately - hard to hold the duck and camera and part the feathers at the same time! I'll try again when I have a second pair of hands.