Wet Feather... How can I fix it?

[Bleenie]

Thank you rainplace. I needed to clip some wings anyway so i guess i will catch all of the soggy ducks and check em all out. Most of them are pretty tame but we'll see how it goes tomorrow..

 

[Bleenie]

jqs, I have my first broody hen of the year now, She just started pulling her down out. The girls slowed down for some reason but i'm saving up what i get to replace the wooden eggs she's sitting on now. I might get some extras from a friends ducks, which are the parents of some of my older Muscovies.

 

[Birdcrazy]

My muscovies have never had any of those problems but I guess I'll no whats wrong if they do. Hope yours are alright bleenie and they are cuuuuute!

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Yes it is and it tends to be part of a habit pattern. Many Muscovy don't love water so they avoid swimming. If they don't get wet they don't preen, if they don't preen the oil gland cuts oil production, their feathers get dry but will asorb water so the ducks tend to avoid it. Round and round the cycle goes. Sometimes it will be broken by a rainy spell when they get rained on and start preening and a normal cycle will get established. I keep a spray bottle of water in the barn and give any duck whose feathers don't look right a light spray down (If they shake water off like a dog does you have oversprayed. They will preen and their feather appearance will look better. Usually a handfull of black oil sunflower seeds serves as a treat and helps them with oil production. One of those conditions that it is better to prevent than tryung to cure. Wet feather in a non Muscovy duck will get their oil gland looked at by me.

 

[Bleenie]

I think maybe their problem is that they get too wet swimming in the creek or poking around the yard...they also have been playing in the mud lately too and im sure that doesnt help feather quality. i dont know why they like it so much.

I am gonna go pen everyone up and check out the wet ones here in a few minutes and re-bed their run with some fluffy dry hay for the day.

 

[Mccluckers]

What happened in the end?

 

[Henrytheduck]

I have over 25 ducks and this one is the only one having this problem. Does anyone have any ideas of what could be causing her wet feathers?