Softening feathers??

[DuckMochi]

Recently it’s come to my attention that my Cayuga’s feathers are not like they used to be. She used to have such lovely feathers that were extremely soft and fluffy but now her feathers seem to be stringy and dry all the time. She’s also not as water resistant as my mallard when it comes to swimming. She’s always drenched like her feathers have no oil on them at all but I know they do because I watch her preen. So is there any way to get her feathers back to the soft state they once were? Or are these new feathers what she will have the rest of her life?

 

[DuckMochi]

The first two pictures are what she used to look like and the others are what she looks like now.

 

[CarleeAnn]

Has her diet changed at all?

 

[DuckMochi]

No. Same food same diet. She doesn't act any different either. She's just... lost her nice appearance.

 

[chickens really]

She probably is getting ready to molt....They get looking yucky right before they molt....

 

[CayugaJana]

X2 @chickens really

That was my thought. I bet she's getting ready to molt. I think of it similar to my dog shedding in the spring.

 

[sourland]

I think that @chickens really has nailed it.