So I noticed today that one of my first year Muscovy hens has lost a bajillion feathers. She was hatched out this spring so she shouldn't be molting yet, none of her siblings are. I put her into "sickbay" pen with a wounded Welsh Harlequin girl and 3 juveniles so I can keep a close eye on her and load her up with drench. It's too dark now for pictures so I'll have to see if I can get some tomorrow.
At first I only noticed that her tail was half naked, then I could see that her wings looked pretty thin and a couple of flight feathers were about to drop out. I instantly thought "picking" but there was no blood or broken shafts, just a lot of pink skin showing through. She dropped a few feathers just in transferring her to the sickbay pen.
I lost 2 Muscovy hens this month about 2 weeks apart
. One girl I found in the barn instead of in bed with the ducks at sunset, saw that one of her legs was injured (?) she wasn't using it at all. Kept her with the flock but watched her carefully to make sure she was eating and drinking. She died 3 days later. No other injuries anywhere.
Then, about a week later, another girl was found limping. Not even using the leg for support - just like the other girl - she dragged it behind. I put her in a dog kennel in the basement with nutri-drench and food (and a friend), after a week I released them to the sickbay pen and 3 days later she died.
Both limpers had good feathering and looked perfectly healthy other than the leg. This poor feathered girl has bright eyes and is walking great... she fought pretty hard when I picked her up to put her in the pen (then she pooped all over me
). But since I lost 2 already I didn't want to take any chances with this one. I've decided to change feed. I have one 50# bag of Southern States layer pellets left, so I'll go to TSC tomorrow and buy Layena and gradually change it out. I hope it's just the feed and not something environmental.
Does anyone else have idea's? I'm really worried about my ducks.
At first I only noticed that her tail was half naked, then I could see that her wings looked pretty thin and a couple of flight feathers were about to drop out. I instantly thought "picking" but there was no blood or broken shafts, just a lot of pink skin showing through. She dropped a few feathers just in transferring her to the sickbay pen.
I lost 2 Muscovy hens this month about 2 weeks apart
Then, about a week later, another girl was found limping. Not even using the leg for support - just like the other girl - she dragged it behind. I put her in a dog kennel in the basement with nutri-drench and food (and a friend), after a week I released them to the sickbay pen and 3 days later she died.
Both limpers had good feathering and looked perfectly healthy other than the leg. This poor feathered girl has bright eyes and is walking great... she fought pretty hard when I picked her up to put her in the pen (then she pooped all over me
Does anyone else have idea's? I'm really worried about my ducks.
