Why is my duck changing colour?

[eggyhead]

I bathed her this evening, with help from my very excited daughter. I thought she was dirty but it seems shes growing brown feathers?!

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Your duck is very cute.

It's part of the normal growth process for ducks to periodically molt (lose and regrow their feathers). I've noticed color changes in mine after a molt. How old is she?

 

[eggyhead]

Oh phew!
Shes 15months only had her a month, totally new to ducks. She was laying but thats stopped about a fortnight ago, is that normal too?!

 

[lomine]

Yep, she is going through her first adult molt. It is normal for them to stop laying while molting. She will probably start laying again after she is done molting or she may stop for the winter and pick up again in the spring. It kind of depends on the breed and the individual duck.

While molting she needs more protein in her diet to help her grow new feathers. I feed mine Purina Flock Raiser, so right now they are getting that straight because it is 20% protein. During the rest of the year I mix in oats or grains to reduce protein. You can do a quick search here to find the different ways others increase protein.

 

[eggyhead]

Thankyou so much for your response.
How long does a moult last, or does it depend on the breed?!.

 

[lomine]

It depends on the duck actually. I have one that dropped almost all her feathers in two days. She looked like an animal got her. She is now all done and laying again. The others are still dropping feathers.

 

[eggyhead]

Daisy hasnt looked any less full since the molt started, my garden and the coop on the other hand

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds like she is a slow molter then, lol... I have both types as well in my Calls... and varying ages... their pen and our yard always looks like ducks exploded in them, lol...

Daisy is gorgeous...