The Duck Spa - how the heck do you soak your duck's feet without a fight?!?

[chickens really]

Not 100% sure; however, they aren't dropping any feathers, so I'm assuming it's wet feather? They came to me with a brownish tinge all over them and the enclosure they came from was just dirt. It's Spring so their enclosure had turned off and on muddy. I had read that ducks that live in muddy conditions can cause them to get the mud/dirt all over their feathers. Mud is a natural oil remover, so I assumed that's what happened. They also did not have any place to bathe (which is hard to do over the winter), so when I brought them home, I let them have a bath. The water was filthy when they were done; however, an hour and a half later they were shivering and their feathers were still wet. I had to blow dry the drake (he was the worst off) with a hairdryer! He actually enjoyed the pampering! lol. Their feathers are much more ragged than the feathers of the 2 other rescues (I got them from a different location). Of course, the other 2 girls are only 7 months old, so perhaps that's why their feathers looks so good and are waterproof still? The two other girls are almost 2 years old and the Drake is about 4 years old.

Sounds more like the lack of oil in the feathers from not bathing. Also might be ready to molt soon..Give them access to bathing water and they will soon look better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Most Muscovies do their molting in late fall. And Muscovies seem to be more prone to wet feather being tree dwellers they don't automatically have the amount of oils other ducks have anyway since they don't spend as much time in the water as other domestics. Get them cleaned up which your doing and give them some extra protein in the form of good quality dog or cat kibble and or dried meal worms this can help with feathers. Wet feather will most likely stick around till they go through full molt then they will be gorgeous.

So nice of you to rescue them sounds like they will now have a wonderful life.

Yes def use the neo till used up I bought some years ago when one of my hens had bumble foot [chicken] and really didn't see it did any better than the Epsom salt and clear iodine but I hope you do since it costs so much more now.

Pics when you can

 

[chickens really]

I'll tag someone else in with Muscovy experience and knows lots too..
@oldhenlikesdogs
She can help out.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

OP where are you located? My muscovy bath all winter long, they can end up with icicles, and they shiver, but shivering isn't necessarily bad it's a way for an animal to warm up. We get cold here, but my muscovy are fine.

I have no experience with bumble foot in any of my poultry. I probably would buy a tote and cut a hole in the lid big enough for the ducks head. It should stand there with its head out, but I haven't tried it. Get a tote the right size and it should have no choice but to sit there. Muscovy are strong birds that are hard to hold onto.

I think given the right feed and environment you will see their feathers improve a bit. They may have not been fed very well either.

 

[Firefightra]

OP where are you located? My muscovy bath all winter long, they can end up with icicles, and they shiver, but shivering isn't necessarily bad it's a way for an animal to warm up. We get cold here, but my muscovy are fine.

I have no experience with bumble foot in any of my poultry. I probably would buy a tote and cut a hole in the lid big enough for the ducks head. It should stand there with its head out, but I haven't tried it. Get a tote the right size and it should have no choice but to sit there. Muscovy are strong birds that are hard to hold onto.

I think given the right feed and environment you will see their feathers improve a bit. They may have not been fed very well either.

I'm in Ontario, Canada. Live between Guelph and Orangeville if you're familiar with the area. It was getting down to -33 C (with the windchill) this winter (that's -27 F for all you American folk ) and we had long snaps of that throughout the winter. They lived in the Oshawa area and the Drake did sustain frostbite on his bill knob. It's been black from frostbite for a couple of months; but, it's no bother to him.

So lucky you've never had to deal with Bumblefoot! I hope to never have to deal with it again; since, their living conditions are now much better. They were looked after before I got them; but, a couple things could have used improvement.

I will try adding the "hole in the lid" to the tote. That sounds like a good idea, thanks for the advice. I now really only have one "problem child" now as I tried something that I thought would work. I took videos of them on my phone and then played them back to them while they soaked. The Drake immediately recognized his girls and would bob his head, huff at them, and nibble my fingers when he saw and heard them. I played videos of other female Muscovies (over the past 3 days) and while he was interested in watching them, he didn't seem to want to communicate. Everytime I play the video of either of his girls, he does the head bob, huffing, crest raising, and finger nibbling. No joke, he recognizes them! It's very adorable.

My "problem child" discovered 3 days ago that she could fly out of the tote. My fault, I wasn't keeping my eyes on her and now she has filed that in the memory bank. Just a few minutes ago she dumped over the entire bowl of Tricide Neo that I had her soaking in, inside the tote. Argh. I'm going to definitely try the hole in the lid or even putting her in a more contained and much higher walled tote.

Where are you located? If you're in this area then I see no reason why I can't let them bathe throughout the winter.

 

[Firefightra]

I'll tag someone else in with Muscovy experience and knows lots too..
@oldhenlikesdogs
She can help out.

Thank you!

 

[Firefightra]

Most Muscovies do their molting in late fall. And Muscovies seem to be more prone to wet feather being tree dwellers they don't automatically have the amount of oils other ducks have anyway since they don't spend as much time in the water as other domestics. Get them cleaned up which your doing and give them some extra protein in the form of good quality dog or cat kibble and or dried meal worms this can help with feathers. Wet feather will most likely stick around till they go through full molt then they will be gorgeous.

So nice of you to rescue them sounds like they will now have a wonderful life.

Yes def use the neo till used up I bought some years ago when one of my hens had bumble foot [chicken] and really didn't see it did any better than the Epsom salt and clear iodine but I hope you do since it costs so much more now.

Pics when you can

Thanks for the tip about the kibble. I have been giving them the occasional mealworms; but, will boost up that protein intake. I can't wait for them to look "gorgeous" as their feathers are pretty ragged.

I am happy to give them a wonderful, new life. My hubby (the handyman he is) made a fabulous 400 square foot enclosure complete with roof (half metal roof, half hardware mesh) and the entire thing is covered in hardware mesh. I dug 2 feet down and 1 foot out and attached hardware mesh to the enclosure and then backfilled. Try your best predators! lol! Lovely barn-style duck house is also inside the enclosure. Once their feet have healed, the weather gets better, and they've been here long enough to consider this their home, I'll be allowing them to free range on our 2 acre property. I have been looking forward to that for a long time...I have a huge slug problem in our vegetable garden as well as our flower gardens and have heard Muscovies LOVE the slugs. I will encourage them to eat their hearts out!

I have clear iodine as well and will try that once the Neo runs out; but, in all honesty, I hope this bumblefoot is done by then!

Thanks for your advice.

I'll get some pics posted tomorrow. I just treated their feet and put them to bed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm in Ontario, Canada. Live between Guelph and Orangeville if you're familiar with the area. It was getting down to -33 C (with the windchill) this winter (that's -27 F for all you American folk ) and we had long snaps of that throughout the winter. They lived in the Oshawa area and the Drake did sustain frostbite on his bill knob. It's been black from frostbite for a couple of months; but, it's no bother to him.

So lucky you've never had to deal with Bumblefoot! I hope to never have to deal with it again; since, their living conditions are now much better. They were looked after before I got them; but, a couple things could have used improvement.

I will try adding the "hole in the lid" to the tote. That sounds like a good idea, thanks for the advice. I now really only have one "problem child" now as I tried something that I thought would work. I took videos of them on my phone and then played them back to them while they soaked. The Drake immediately recognized his girls and would bob his head, huff at them, and nibble my fingers when he saw and heard them. I played videos of other female Muscovies (over the past 3 days) and while he was interested in watching them, he didn't seem to want to communicate. Everytime I play the video of either of his girls, he does the head bob, huffing, crest raising, and finger nibbling. No joke, he recognizes them! It's very adorable.

My "problem child" discovered 3 days ago that she could fly out of the tote. My fault, I wasn't keeping my eyes on her and now she has filed that in the memory bank. Just a few minutes ago she dumped over the entire bowl of Tricide Neo that I had her soaking in, inside the tote. Argh. I'm going to definitely try the hole in the lid or even putting her in a more contained and much higher walled tote.

Where are you located? If you're in this area then I see no reason why I can't let them bathe throughout the winter.

I'm in Wisconsin. We get our winter weather straight out of Canada. The -20's to -30's Fahrenheit base temperatures occur here too for stretches through January to March. We have on occasion gotten -50 wind chills. My muscovy will have a few icicles hanging on them, but they are all fine. Some of my hens are getting up there in age, so it can't be too bad on them.

I use rubber pans that are about 6 inches deep and are big enough to sit a duck. I put warm water in and they take their baths. My drake had slight frost bite on his carnucles too, but it healed up fine.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...Canadian...

 

[Firefightra]

I'm in Wisconsin. We get our winter weather straight out of Canada. The -20's to -30's Fahrenheit base temperatures occur here too for stretches through January to March. We have on occasion gotten -50 wind chills. My muscovy will have a few icicles hanging on them, but they are all fine. Some of my hens are getting up there in age, so it can't be too bad on them.

I use rubber pans that are about 6 inches deep and are big enough to sit a duck. I put warm water in and they take their baths. My drake had slight frost bite on his carnucles too, but it healed up fine.

Excellent! I have seen those rubber pans you're talking about and will be getting a couple for next winter. I was concerned about them shivering when wet; but, if you don't seem to have any issues with that, then they will be keeping their feathers nice and clean and waterproof throughout next winter. Nothing looks more pathetic than a dripping wet duck.

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.