Do my ducks have wet feather?

[Mandarin]

I have 2 4 year old Welsh Harlequin Drakes and I sadly lost one to a fox on Sunday night. It was heartbreaking and I feel so sad for the one duck I have left. I can tell he's mourning. Knowing ducks shouldn't be alone I manage to track down two 3 month old welshies to join him.

When I got them home they were soaking wet from the really rainy day we'd had and I'm worried that they have wet feather. I got my original Drake's when they were 3 months old and his feathers we're in great condition and fully waterproof. The new drakes have quite scruffy feathers and are certainly not waterproof! I've checked their oil gland and it feels and looks similar to my older Drake, although I'm not an expert! The lady I bought the new drakes from did say they had a pond but when they go in my pond they seem to panic and jump straight back out, so I'm not sure I believe it. They also don't seem to pretend properly, only preening their bellies, not their backs.

Does this sound like wet feather or could it be that they still have juvenile feathers? Their wings are very visible where as my older Drake's feathers blend into his body. Please help! It's been quite a stressful few days!

 

[Abriana]

Give the drakes a bath in dawn dish soap, if it is wet feather I have heard that that will clear it up. Good luck!

 

[Abriana]

Got to a website called hobby farms. They have info in depth on how to clear it.
The reason the drakes may not have swum at the other place might be because when they are not waterproofed anymore, the water soaks their down, chilling them, and then they avoid the water, and lack of water will cause wet feather.
Hope to hear of improvement soon!

 

[Mandarin]

Thanks for your thoughts. Deep down I thought it was wet feather.

I was trying to avoid bathing them as I read you have to keep them away from a pond for a few days and I didn't want to upset the bonding period with my old duck. I guess it's worth a try though.

They also shuffle their wings quite a lot. Any idea what this means?

 

[Abriana]

Not a duck expert sorry, I have no idea what the wing shuffling is. Do your healthy ducks do it?
@Ravynscroft

 

[Mandarin]

Not a duck expert sorry, I have no idea what the wing shuffling is. Do your healthy ducks do it?
@Ravynscroft

My healthy Drake doesn't shuffle his wings and have never seen him do that. I'm putting it down to a new environment and being a bit cold from their wet feathers. Hopefully a bath and a few days out of the pond will sort them out. Fingers crossed!

 

[Ravynscroft]

My healthy Drake doesn't shuffle his wings and have never seen him do that. I'm putting it down to a new environment and being a bit cold from their wet feathers. Hopefully a bath and a few days out of the pond will sort them out. Fingers crossed!

Check them for lice, otherwise it sounds like improper bathing and preening... it may not be able to be fixed until they molt, if it is cold where you are, don't let them bathe and stay out in the cold wet, they can become hypothermic very easy when their feathers aren't properly waterproof...

Wing shuffling could be them still getting used to the weight of their wing feathers, or it is them trying to dry their feathers since they will stay waterlogged a long time without the oil...

I would bring them inside to bath, them blow dry them on low setting until dry and try to encourage them to preen properly...

 

[Mandarin]

Check them for lice, otherwise it sounds like improper bathing and preening... it may not be able to be fixed until they molt, if it is cold where you are, don't let them bathe and stay out in the cold wet, they can become hypothermic very easy when their feathers aren't properly waterproof...

Wing shuffling could be them still getting used to the weight of their wing feathers, or it is them trying tovdry their feathers since they will stay waterlogged a long time without the oil...

I would bring them inside to bath, them blow dry them on low setting until dry and try to encourage them to preen properly...

Thanks for the advice. I'll check for lice too. If they do have lice, will the bath get rid of them from the duck? I know I'll have to treat the coop too.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Thanks for the advice. I'll check for lice too. If they do have lice, will the bath get rid of them from the duck? I know I'll have to treat the coop too.

No, they'll need to be treated as well... I use permethrin spray for my coops and Ivermectin Pour On for my ducks...

 

[Mandarin]

No, they'll need to be treated as well... I use permethrin spray for my coops and Ivermectin Pour On for my ducks...

I've not suffered with mites before - is it obvious to spot?