Ducklings legs pealing?

[Horsefly]

Do ducklings shed skin off their legs when they grow? I ask because I have a pekin duckling and his legs have flakey dry skin coming off. The other duckling with him looks fine. Both are acting normal and go for a swim in the sink every day.

 

[Horsefly]

Anyone experianced this?

 

[Amiga]

Hi! I have not seen the skin shedding, either in my Pekins years ago or with my runners now. I wanted to respond so you wouldn't feel like you were in an echo chamber.

Just thinking here . . . possibilities - nutritional need not being met (this does NOT mean you are not feeding them well - just that I have been told some ducklings need more of some nutrients or have trouble absorbing some nutrients. An example is niacin.), fungal infection, recovering from a mild surface infection. Has there been a scrape or cut on the foot or leg recently? The sink swimming sounds like a great practice. Keep it up.

Does he pick at it, or show any behavior noticeably different from his buddy?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Duck_feeder sums it up pretty well here on this recent thread.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=306847

Completely normal for this to occur - and I usually see it start to occur with all my ducklings from around two weeks of age upwards. Some shed more than others.. But it is nothing to be overly concerned about at this stage unless it continunes for a long time or is so bad that the area becomes scabby.

 

[Amiga]

Thanks, duckyfromoz, I haven't seen that yet. Good to know, in case it starts with any of my runners.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Amiga- I have noticed that the peeling tends to be more evident with the younger ones from two weeks to about 4 weeks - Yours being around a month now are past the stage I would expect to see peeling of skin on the feet and legs- however some peeling or at least flaking may still occur.

 

[Horsefly]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not so worried anymore. I guess I should of done a search first

.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Thats ok...you can get different responses to a question each time it is posted anyway.... As long as you arent worrying about the peeling for now- that is the main thing.

 

[aprillynn97]

Question ! I have two baby ducks and one of them legs are starting to peel is that normal ? Also his beak is a purple kinda color now is that also normal ?

 

[Amiga]

Photo's really help us make suggestions - welcome to the Duck Forum (c:

Please tell us what kind of food they have, temperature in the brooder, what kind of waterer, all that. They need water with food 24/7. Starter crumbles are good - waterfowl if you can get it. If they are on chick starter, they'll most likely do better with B vitamin supplement like brewer's yeast (not baking yeast, not winemaking yeast, but brewer's yeast - or nutritional yeast).

Have you read the sticky on raising ducklings?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750869/raising-and-caring-for-ducklings#post_10611711