What's Up with Martha's Feathers?

[3bird]

Try to reupload the picture, it isn’t showing (for me at least).

Done. Any luck?

 

[CayugaJana]

I love Martha and her name by the way! She’s beautiful. Even if she’s molting.

 

[CayugaJana]

I can tell if one of mine are molting by the abundance of feathers on the ground. When I pick them up sometimes I feel little prickly things that are their feathers growing back in.

 

[CayugaJana]

Here they are headed out for frosty foraging this morning...I can't believe it's 9 November, and we just got our first hard frost!

Oh my! Sooooooo adorable!

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are so pretty and such a beautiful place you have for them. I love the contentment of their noises while they forage. Mine do it too. so sweet.

I use heated buckets over winter and have to cover half to keep them from using them as private hot tub. lol

 

[CarleeAnn]

Best of luck!

 

[CayugaJana]

My wife is a scientific illustrator, and she's teaching classes on birds right now. She's been thrilled with all the really beautiful feathers she's been finding. So, yep, I guess they have been molting. Nobody else has looked like Martha though. Such a fun journey with these guys! Thanks again.

I bet she is loving the crossover of work and play! And I agree, it IS such a fun journey.

I think of it kinda like puberty, some go through it more gracefully than others. But the bummer for them is it’s a yearly thing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They will get use to it give them a few days. My large 5 gal heated bucket I have a thick piece of scrap 8X8 in front as a step up so they can dunk their heads but still not climb inside.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yay!!!

 

[CarleeAnn]

We thought about that. Our concerns were the stress of being removed from the flock if it's not a big deal. Have you done that?

I only have two ducks, so if they come in they both do. Perhaps you could bring a friend in with her to keep her company, I have heard of others doing that for sick ducks.