- Apr 15, 2009
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- 0
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My pekin has no oil on her feathers we have to wash her and blow her dry on rainy days because she is shivering , can thier oil ducts stop producing is there a remedy out there?
can ducks stop producing oil for feathers?
- Thread starter titan1
- Start date
Check to see if the oil gland is infected. It's near the base of the tail.
- Thread starter
- #3
- Apr 15, 2009
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is it on the top of the tail or more on the bottom/ either way I looked and there is nothing pussy or swollen or smelly.
top of the tail base.
- Thread starter
- #5
- Apr 15, 2009
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Ok i looked there and actually rubbed it to try to stimulate it a little there is no infection, any other thoughts?
I'm cutting and pasting this from a post I made a few weeks ago:
I found this in a thread about wet feathers at http://groups.google.com/group/sci.agriculture.poultry posted by Iridesa
> Common cause for wet feathers is a clogged or infected oil gland, heavy
> mite infestation, or foreign substance in swimming water. Oil gland is
> located at the top base of the tail. Little feathers there should look
> very oily. If gland is clogged, massage gently several times daily with
> warm compress. Oral antibiotic may be Rx'd by vet for infection if
> present.
> To prevent above cause(s) provide clean fresh water for swimming to
> prevent mites and foreign substance from getting on feathers.
> Other cause(s):
> Duck has been washed with or been in water with soap, this removes the
> protective coating and disturbs barbs of feathers; not allowing them to
> hold air.
> Duck has not been allowed swimming water, thus is not preening to keep
> feathers supple.
> Barbs get broken or are pulled apart.
> Corretion- Time, for both causes above the duck will preen and get
> feathers into shape
> Ducks feathers are worn from an abundance of treading by drakes.
> Massive mite infestation.
> Correction- Time, for both causes above feathers are damaged beyond
> preening repair. Duck must molt to regain good feather structure. See
> Vet for mite infesttion if mites are present. Look for tiny spots on
> feather shafts and or skin. Check duck house for tiny red mites at
> nite...nests are best place to look for mites if you have em.
> Note- waterfowl feather structure: Each feather is connected together
> sorta like a zipper. The zipper or barbs can be zipped back together if
> not damaged. This is what waterfowl do when they preen. The barbs must
> be keep soft and supple, this is what the oil from the oil gland does.
> (like putting hand cream on so ones hands so they don't get chapped) If
> the oil gland isn't working or duck is not afforded swimming water (bird
> won't preen much), feathers become dry, brittle and break. Once damage
> occurs to the barbs the duck will no longer be "water proof" no matter
> how well the duck has oiled and or preened. Air held in by the feathers
> is what keeps the duck "dry" not the oil. The oil gand works on supply
> and demand. If no water to swim in...no need to preen, no oil is made or
> gland gets clogged from under use.
> Hope this helps
I found this in a thread about wet feathers at http://groups.google.com/group/sci.agriculture.poultry posted by Iridesa
> Common cause for wet feathers is a clogged or infected oil gland, heavy
> mite infestation, or foreign substance in swimming water. Oil gland is
> located at the top base of the tail. Little feathers there should look
> very oily. If gland is clogged, massage gently several times daily with
> warm compress. Oral antibiotic may be Rx'd by vet for infection if
> present.
> To prevent above cause(s) provide clean fresh water for swimming to
> prevent mites and foreign substance from getting on feathers.
> Other cause(s):
> Duck has been washed with or been in water with soap, this removes the
> protective coating and disturbs barbs of feathers; not allowing them to
> hold air.
> Duck has not been allowed swimming water, thus is not preening to keep
> feathers supple.
> Barbs get broken or are pulled apart.
> Corretion- Time, for both causes above the duck will preen and get
> feathers into shape
> Ducks feathers are worn from an abundance of treading by drakes.
> Massive mite infestation.
> Correction- Time, for both causes above feathers are damaged beyond
> preening repair. Duck must molt to regain good feather structure. See
> Vet for mite infesttion if mites are present. Look for tiny spots on
> feather shafts and or skin. Check duck house for tiny red mites at
> nite...nests are best place to look for mites if you have em.
> Note- waterfowl feather structure: Each feather is connected together
> sorta like a zipper. The zipper or barbs can be zipped back together if
> not damaged. This is what waterfowl do when they preen. The barbs must
> be keep soft and supple, this is what the oil from the oil gland does.
> (like putting hand cream on so ones hands so they don't get chapped) If
> the oil gland isn't working or duck is not afforded swimming water (bird
> won't preen much), feathers become dry, brittle and break. Once damage
> occurs to the barbs the duck will no longer be "water proof" no matter
> how well the duck has oiled and or preened. Air held in by the feathers
> is what keeps the duck "dry" not the oil. The oil gand works on supply
> and demand. If no water to swim in...no need to preen, no oil is made or
> gland gets clogged from under use.
> Hope this helps
- Thread starter
- #7
- Apr 15, 2009
- 20
- 0
- 32
this helped so much!! it's not mites because the male is fine and we don't see any we will start massaging her oil duct daily and make sure she is swimming daily so she preens more. Thank you so much for your help!!
Quote:
Spraying or sprinkling with water can have the same effect as swimming which she might tend to avoid if her feathers are in poor shape. it doesn't soak the feathers the way a dip in the pool can do. JUst a suggestion.
Spraying or sprinkling with water can have the same effect as swimming which she might tend to avoid if her feathers are in poor shape. it doesn't soak the feathers the way a dip in the pool can do. JUst a suggestion.
please please come back and let us know how it works out. I'm new to ducks and learning.
I realize this is an old post but it's the very information I needed today!!!
I have a rescued duck (1.5yrs old) that had never been in water. I put her in the bathtub, she had a ball but when she got out, she was cold and shivering. I had never seen this in a duck before. Thank you for the info, she will get daily baths or showers until she is ready to move outside with a pool. Thank you again
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