Pulling out feathers

[IndoorDuckie]

Long time lurker...

We have a single Mallard hen, we were told she was a rouen by TSC last spring but she stayed smaller and can fly any distance she desires so we have decided she must be a mallard. She comes in the house to sleep at night, she has a pretty large place to sleep inside. In the morning she goes outside to a very large duck pen. She started laying about 4 months ago, mostly in the mornings. She managed to compile 3 eggs about 3 weeks ago and pulled out a bunch of down and made a nest. We took the eggs and went on about her normal routine. Sin then (3 weeks ago) she has not laid an eggs. Doesn't eat well and has let herself get dirty and stinky. My research says she is broody. But my main concern is she has now pulled out all of her flight feathers and loses so many more feathers each day. Untill this happened she was very social with us, she would run to you to get attention, flatten all the way to the ground when you petted her, and fall asleep on you. She is not mean now, but just a little bit more skittish at first.

In summery, is the feather pulling part of broodiness? She is looking pretty rough. Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

Hi!

I am not sure about the broodiness, but I would see if she will take some vitamin and electrolyte liquid, just to boost her health overall while you figure out what is going on.

Is she eating and drinking normally? Also, I wonder if you could encourage her to take a bath. It's possible she could have a virus, or parasites or something like that, as well as being broody.

 

[IndoorDuckie]

Living in MI we took her pool from her pen when it started freezing regularly, but she had been bathing in her non-freezing water until recently. What kind of vitamin and liquid should she have? She seems to eat much less than she did. I think I will throw her pool back in now that it should be warmer.