Weird Duck Bill

[duckmom3]

Today was pen cleaning day and my boys noticed that our drake, Pickles, bill looks weird. Do you think he just got into something or is there something wrong with him?

 

[Isaac 0]

A little bit of flaking around the bill is normal, if you think about it, how much stuff their bills go through that's bound to happen. However, his looks a little too much, could be nothing but I thought I'd ask what's your setup like, do they have access to deep water throughout the day?

 

[duckmom3]

A little bit of flaking around the bill is normal, if you think about it, how much stuff their bills go through that's bound to happen. However, his looks a little too much, could be nothing but I thought I'd ask what's your setup like, do they have access to deep water throughout the day?

They have a water bucket. That’s what we’ve always used. Would it be helpful for him to put the kiddie pool in there for awhile?

 

[Isaac 0]

Only a water bucket?

I disagree with people who say ducks only need a bucket of water, and they'll do fine. It discourages natural hygienic practices, not much space or things for a duck to do in just a bucket, I think by providing them with a bigger source of water that they can actually play in would help dramatically with keeping the bill and clean. In addition to that, I may spread a tab bit of vaseline on his bill to keep it moist until the bills state of health has been restored.

Do you have a picture of what you're keeping them in?

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I can’t say whether or not it’s normal, but Daphne had what appeared to be the same condition in late winter at the end of a hard molt. I kind of felt that she was “molting” the old outermost layers of her bill. The only issue she had was that the fresh new layers hadn’t fully hardened yet, and she got a wound on her bill from normal foraging behaviors that wouldn’t have caused an issue otherwise. I just kept her bill clean and dry and stopped her from foraging while it healed, and she now has a shiny new bill! I’m not sure if my explanation is accurate, but I hope that your handsome drake’s bill goes back to normal soon! P.S. I also agree with everything Isaac said above