Alex Kountry is the founder of HayFarmGuy and has been a backyard farmer for over 10 years. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do.
He also loves to play tennis and read books. We have got answers to all your concerns regarding feather losing. This process happens almost once a year and is popularly known as Duck Molting. It is a natural phenomenon of replacing old, worn-out feathers with new, fresh feathers. Molting is usually observed in ducks and chickens.
Ducks tend to become grumpy during molting and need special attention. Photo by Evie Shaffer on Pexels. They'll get over it. I had geese in with my ducklings.
They were forever tasting each other. MelbourneDuckMam Hatching 8 Years. Sep 13, 2 1 6. I thought the same about my ducks but it is just because the feathers are so so fine. Mine looked like bare skin when wet but fine when they dried off. They are just growing and still have to get feathers, well junior then the white grown up ducky feathers. Best to put a pic up so we can have a look. Last edited: Sep 19, Will take a photo this morning and post.
Kmoreau Chirping 8 Years. Jun 28, 7 Are they bald looking when dry too or just when they are wet? If it is when they are dry they are nipping At each other totally Normal ducky behavior if it's only when they are wet, it's just cause their down isn't thick enough yet. Just wait til they start to feather out, then they look really strange Going through their ugly duckling stage!!
OK, Now I feel really silly! It must have just been because they were still wet. I've never realized it being quite so noticeable in that area. Perhaps it's because their body is growing faster than the feathers. Anyhow, thanks for all the advice Mini Moe Songster 6 Years. Mar 21, 92 36 I don't have to ask my question, since this thread is almost identical to my situation.
So, don't worry about appearing overreactive Now during molting extra protein being suggested is that true. Ducks grow crazy fast — much faster than chickens. Are they full grown now? Protein is helpful for supporting molting adult birds. Three of them this is there second year they hatched spring of , and I just noticed one of the ones that hatched spring of is molting. Will molting ducks still get in their pond or swim? As their feathers fall out and regrow their natural waterproofing is going to be disrupted, especially in a heavy molt.
The new pin feathers can also be really sensitive, so she might just not be in the mood for a swim. Hi, I have a female Call Duck and six chickens who all normally live in harmony but I found the duck bleeding and hiding from the chickens who were plucking out her feathers, my duck has molted all her wing feathers.
I have had to separate her from the chickens. Looking for advice, how long should I keep them apart? Chickens are known for going after and picking at wounds on their flockmates.
And once they saw the blood they probably kept picking. Poor little girl. Definitely keep her separate until she stops bleeding and any scabs have healed over.
Hopefully in a week or so she should be much better. Good luck! Thanks Liz, I separated her immediately from the flock and she seems to be well, the bleeding has scabbed over. Hi, we have 3 peaking ducks and our male looks really dirty and his feathers towards his rear are looking discoloured and not feathery…. Aside from parasites, you should look into a condition called wet feather.
Pekins are susceptible to it. When ducks preen they stimulate their preen gland to release an oil that coats their feather, making them glossy and waterproof. You will have to wash the duck and dry him completely. Keep him dry for a couple days you may have to keep him inside , then reintroduce swimming water but keep an eye on him to see if he is getting clean and dry and preening afterwards. In severe cases you might need to keep drying him until he goes through a molt and regrows some new feathers.
I loved this article. Particularly your light hearted sense of humour about Alexander. Learnt so much through reading this. Thank you. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Drakes have beautiful plumage, with bright shiny feathers. Ducks are often curious birds that can be attracted by these colorful feathers. Pecking feathers can slowly grow into a habit and spread amongst others in the flock. It is imperative to control this habit early to keep the community safe. There can be multiple reasons for pecking, besides beautiful feathers. Poor environmental enhancements, overcrowding, low lighting, and some aggressive birds in the flock can be a few.
This behavior is the continuation of the previous point of feather pecking. When open skin and wounds are visible to the ducks, they often tend to peck more. This results in cannibalism. Various surrounding factors and management can lead to poor health of your birds. This can add to losing feathers, and you must keep a close watch to identify the problem.
You must give enough clean water and feed and try to control the infestation of mites, lice, etc. Good feed and clean water to drink and clean themselves are required for good feathers, good meat, and eggs from your ducks. You need to ensure that the food is nutrient-rich to cater to their energy requirements throughout the day.
The ducks can lose feathers due to excessive stress building within them. The reasons can be extreme temperatures, any illness or disease, lack of clean water, and food. Now that we have discussed all the factors that your ducks may be losing feathers for, you should not ignore any alarming signs that your pet shows. Do not be alarmed by the quality of feathers at the starting of their molting period, as they will be dry, rough, and messy.
Each duck breed is unique, and they behave differently during the molting period. Animals Ducks Goats Pigs Sheep. Besides having a charismatic plumage, duck feathers serve a few very essential roles. Probably Molting! Molting Patterns However, the domesticated breed of the Mallard Family does not migrate.
Molting is also influenced by the climatic conditions, weather, and care given to the birds. Muscovy Family These breeds do not migrate. What to Feed Them During Molting? Different Kinds of Molting in Ducks Here are the different kinds of molting in pet ducks: Early Spring Molt This molt is usually negligible if you have only female ducks. Summer Molt The molting phase is the biggest in the year, which lasts for weeks around July. Fall Molt It is the final molting period for both Drakes and Hens.
Other Reasons Your Ducks May Be Losing Feathers Not just molting, there can be reasons which can be indicating to other problems that your ducks might be facing.
0コメント