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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2011 13:01:55 GMT 8
Hi,
I have two Muscovies and I have noticed that one of them is eating feathers. The two girls have decided it's their time to rule the roost and if the chickens get too close they pull a few feathers out of them. And then one of the ducks eats the feathers it has just pulled out. Is this a sign that they are missing something in their diet? Is this something I should be worried about? Cheers, Sarah
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Post by rap on May 2, 2011 20:51:56 GMT 8
This might help found on internet
I have 6 juvenile musckovy ducks and they are pulling each other's wing feathers out and eating them! They have been doing this for several weeks now, since I got them at about 6 weeks old. They almost have no wing feathers left! What could cause this behavior? I am feeding them chick starter, corn and fresh grass. Entekuken Administrator *****
Duck Herder
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 43 Karma: 0 Re: Eating Feathers « Reply #1 on Sept 1, 2007, 11:13am » It's usually a protein or a penning issue. They either need a higher protein feed, more animal protein, or they're in too small of a pen and are stressed. You can try adding hard boiled eggs to their diet, just hard-boil and mash, or you can add something such as fishmeal, or find a commercial food that uses animal products in it. The poultry concentrate I use has porcine product in it. You can also try black oil sunflower seeds, while not animal protein, this is a great feed full of fats (helps feather condition) and trace vit & mins. If you're feeding chick starter, there's no need to feed the corn, you're actually lowering the protein content of the chick starter and growing birds need protein.
As far as picking, while it usually starts innocently, it is a learned behavior and once it starts it's hard to get stopped. I'd remove the pickers from the group - removing the picked birds means that they'll have to re-introduced to the flock at a later date and they'll have to fight, once again, for a place in the flock. Re-introducing the bullies means that they're the outsiders and will have to work their way into the flock, but they're more capable of it.
HTH Picking can injure wings creating slipped wing...
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Post by rap on May 2, 2011 20:54:58 GMT 8
Also found on net
Feathers are comprised of approximately 91% protein, 1.3% fat and 7.9% water. This behavior usually indicates a protein or captive issue. They may need a higher protein feed or more animal protein. Alternatively, they are in too small of a cage/pen and could be stressed. You can add something such as fishmeal, or find a commercial food that uses animal products in it. Otherwise, you can try black oil sunflower seeds. Although it's not animal protein, it is packed with fats and trace vitamins and minerals.
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Post by ducknut on May 5, 2011 17:02:24 GMT 8
make sure you feed your ducks duck crumble not chicken crumble i breed ducks and have never had this problin i agree thay may need more room.if not feed right they will get slip wing. good luck.
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