The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: northfifeduckling on June 07, 2009, 10:44:43 pm
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I wonder if anyone can tell me if it is normal that a duck is a bit miserable when she moults? We seem to have the odd one that keeps to herself and I noticed that the one at the moment looks quite scruffy. Does it make them exhausted and solitary? :&>
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Yes, it does, they get quite depressed. And you have to watch them if there is heavy rain as their under feathers aren't oily enough to cope. I lost a white Campbell duck a few years ago to a 10 minute rainstorm. She just went further and further downhill over three days and nothing we or the vet could do was any good.
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Thanks, Annie. In a way I'm glad it is nothing more serious, although I might separate her if she's still poorly tomorrow. Do they stop laying, too? :&>
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Yes, they do. Try to keep her moving if you can and give her different things to tempt her to eat.
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I wonder if the others are picking up on it or if they all take a natural laying brake at this time of the year, our production has suddenly dropped to half. I had to go out this morning, so couldn't keep watch who's been laying in the garden and maybe the crows been taking them. I'll be in tomorrow to keep an eye, so will give her some treats, too. :&>
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I thought mine had gone off lay as there were no eggs for three days, then I spotted a nest on sand under a tree - just a hollowed out spot. Yesterday there were two eggs in it so I grabbed them quick and made sure the ducks stayed in a bit longer this morning - three eggs in the nesting box along with 3 ex batt ones. So I guess the crows and magpies have been stealing mine.
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must be that time of the year...today it was a bit better, but it already feels so late to let them out after 9 when it is light so early! The moulting girl is still resting and she didn't eat much, but she laid. :&>
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My ducks like the porridge I make for poorly chickens - porridge oats, boiling water poured over, add honey, a little citricidal, some milk to mix, leave to cool a little. You can add some greens too. Mine love it. Hope it tempts her to eat.