Smelly Ducks

[QuakieChan]

Hello everyone,

I have a rouen duckling that is about a month old and a mallard that is about 2 weeks old. I know ducks can be messy and their brooder is smelly but my older duck has this distinct smell that is really stinky. It doesn't smell like what the brooder smells like at all, it might be her own distinct smell? or could it be hormones? She is starting to get some of her feathers and is molting as of right now. The little one does not have a smell at all, no matter how dirty he gets. Any ideas of what could be causing the smell? We also let both of them bath 2-3 times a day.

 

[cavemanrich]

Well, I'm not there to sample the smell, so cant give accurate suggestions. But do have some questions in mind. Unusual smells can be brought about by the birds diet. I know that chickens fed a high protein feed diet do have smellier gumdrops than regular diet chickens. Many peeps do offer the feather fixer feed and other higher protein feeds during molting. Others offer it for other reasons each to their own thinking .
Has your large duck always stunk, or just lately??? How are her droppings, soft and watery? Did you recently change feed and stink started at that point? Does your duck make clear ejections of feces, or is there some on south end feathers?
WISHING YOU BEST......... and

 

[QuakieChan]

My duck has always been stinky even when she was a week old when we got her and its the same smell as now, it just got stronger. Her droppings are always soft and watery, some more watery than others. I did start giving her tomatoes that we just got, but the smell is still as strong as last week when we didn't give her any yet. She has clear ejections of feces what do you mean by some on south end feathers? Thanks for the quick response!

 

[chickens really]

Do you allow it to bath?..Ducks need water to keep themselves clean..

 

[casportpony]

My duck has always been stinky even when she was a week old when we got her and its the same smell as now, it just got stronger. Her droppings are always soft and watery, some more watery than others. I did start giving her tomatoes that we just got, but the smell is still as strong as last week when we didn't give her any yet. She has clear ejections of feces what do you mean by some on south end feathers? Thanks for the quick response!

Can you post some pictures of her poop?

 

[cavemanrich]

She has clear ejections of feces what do you mean by some on south end feathers? Thanks for the quick response!

The head is the North end. The opposite would be South or vent area. My chickens at times did accumulate some runny drool poop . I just washed them in warm water and dried. In warm weather when they like to take dust baths, they do their grooming themselves.
As posted above, ducks do like water baths. I don't think they dust bathe.