Why is skin peeling on Duck's Feet

[tia]

I have 2 week old ducklings and the skin is peeling on one duck's feet. Is that normal? If not what can I do about it? I thought he had a piece of paper stuck to this foot and realized it was a piece of dry skin. help.

Thanks,

Tia

 

[cjeanean]

Hmmm....I don't remember if my ducks' feet did the same thing. I seem to vaguely remember something along those lines....Their feet are almost like scales, and reptiles shed (I know they're not reptiles, but it could be a similar function). What exactly does it look like??? Is there more skin underneath, or is it bare flesh? Is the skin that's coming off transparent/whitish, or does it still look like living skin? I'd best leave this to someone who has raised/owned more than 2 ducks....LOL!!!

 

[Duck Keeper]

It's normal.

All of my ducklings did the same thing. It seems they grow so fast, they pop out of their skin!

As long as they aren't in any pain and there's still skin underneath, they're fine.

 

[sonew123]

my baby duck is doing the same thing-like a snake shedding its skin!

 

[tia]

Thanks I was worried about them. They have at least doubled in size in one week. There is skin underneath, and it does look just like when a snake loses its skin, it just isn't coming off in one piece. It would make sense if they are growing so fast, that they need new skin. They are very healthy otherwise. I was chatting last night and someone said I might give them some water to swim in. Most everything I've read said if they are hatched in an incubator you should wait a month or so before giving them water because they don't have the oil from their mother that they get when they are hatched naturally. What is your take on that? Should they have a pool to swim in after one week?

Thanks for all your help.
Tia

 

[streemers]

mine did that at around 2wks and again around 5wks

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
MIne was swimming in a big bowl at 2 days old loving life! Hes 2 weeks +/- in the tub now!!

 

[luvtohatch]

Just watch closely if you pop them in some water. They can drown as they're downy feathers soak up the water instead of floating on top and they get chilled quickly when they are still young. I let them hop in a container that they can still stand up in and then dry them as soon as they get out. they really need the deeper water to clean their noses in and once you see the ducky in the water you see true happiness. or nuttiness. however you want to look at it

 

[Kellybelly22]

It's normal.

All of my ducklings did the same thing. It seems they grow so fast, they pop out of their skin!

As long as they aren't in any pain and there's still skin underneath, they're fine.

Do Ducklings rest alot? .. this seems to be bothering our duckling through the process. Seems to limp. I don’t know if you have any recommendations?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you supplementing with Nutritional yeast for niacin? waterfowl babies can suffer from niacin deficiency which can cause limping and lameness.