Problem with ducks feathers?

[pinksapphire]

Hi,
I got a pair of call ducks and there feathers seem unhealthy.
All my call ducks have smooth glossy feathers but these new ones feathers don't look great(see image below)
What would this be from?

 

[pinksapphire]

Here is another image of the ducks feathers,
Could it be wet feather?

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Hi, I don't have any experience with wet feather, so hopefully an experienced person will chime in. I found this thread... you can kind of compare your duck's feathers to the ones in the photos https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/311700/how-do-you-fix-a-wet-duck

Have you checked the oil gland on the lower back to see if it is clogged or infected?

Again, hopefully someone with experience can tell you for sure if it is wet feather.

 

[Amiga]

A few possibilities are stress, or it's been a while since they molted, nutritional deficiency, and yes possibly wet feather or oil gland problems.

I would make sure they have fresh water to bath in, a really good diet - I like to add some flax meal and just a little cat kibble (for them I would grind it up) to food especially when they are molting.

Take a close look - if it's mites, you ought to be able to see them. They could have come into contact with something greasy. It's been a long winter here, feathers can take a beating, and don't get as much bath time as in nicer weather.

 

[pinksapphire]

Thank you both for your help, I have checked for mites and can not see any and checked his oil gland but as i do not know what they are supposed to look like not sure if there is a problem there or not.
I did just get them a few days ago so it could be the stress or what they were being feed or where they were kept by the person i got them from.
Her is a photo of the oil gland does that look normal?

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

It looks pretty dirty. I would look at one of the healthy duck's glands to compare. Then take next steps to clean the area.

 

[Amiga]

Looks a little gummed up. I would hold a warm - not hot - wet washcloth on it for a couple of minutes, then massage a little olive oil or coconut oil into it. And definitely some bath time. A lukewarm bath - no soap - might help.

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

This is what a healthy oil gland should look like (I found it on google)... clean area free of dirt and debris, with very oily surrounding feather, and with a yellowish color to it:

 

[pinksapphire]

Thank you all so much for your help.
I have cleaned it with a warm washcloth. looks a lot better now, will put some oil on it.
Should i bath him or just put a basin of warm water out for him to do it?
I am a little worried about stressing him as he is new and not used to me yet.

 

[maryhensley]

Thank you all so much for your help.
I have cleaned it with a warm washcloth. looks a lot better now, will put some oil on it.
Should i bath him or just put a basin of warm water out for him to do it?
I am a little worried about stressing him as he is new and not used to me yet.

I know this is a long shot as this was 8 years ago but I was wondering how your drake did after the bath and oil did his feathers get healthier??