Oh my gosh. I don’t have links, but one of the most helpful topics to look at for me was the actual chemical composition of preen oils. There are published findings, but I didn’t save links. Once I knew what is actually produced by the oil gland, I was better prepared to approximate it.
I’ve seen the debate about “oil” vs “wax,” and ducks have more of a “wax.” However, the common conception of oil as liquid and wax as solid is not the whole story. For example, jojoba oil is actually a wax. I happened to know about this topic already, because I make all of my household’s personal care products (shampoo, face cleanser, lip balm, lotion, etc). Jojoba oil would have been my first choice, but I didn’t have any on hand. Sweet almond has very similar attributes, so I felt comfortable substituting.
Because her feathers were already in less than ideal condition, they are not interlocking the way they should. The interlocking combined with the preen oil is what makes them water resistant. So, I added the beeswax to up the water repellent factor.
Both of these ingredients are organic , food quality, and safe to ingest.
I’ve also been applying organic cold pressed coconut oil to her keel, where her skin was irritated from the pressure of laying down more often. It has helped immensely!
