[Hawkins]

one of my Khaki campbells looks as if she is sweating or her feathers on her back are oily. She also doesnt appear to be as water proof as the others at the moment. Not all of her just her back from her wings to her little brown wiggly bum. she is still laying and doesnt appear off colour at all. Any ideas.

[Foxy]

oooh thats a  question for Vember or Kate I think -I am sure they will be on soon! I have no idea and would be very interested in the answer!

[poultrygeist]

Is she preening ok ??

ie. Is she having trouble getting her neck round to coat her back end ??

And i presume she hasn't been at a bottle of washign up liquid ?

Rob

[Hawkins]

she has been preening and dont think she has been at the washing up liquid.

She was certainly having good flapps and swims in the stream last night. Dont think she is unwell or anything,

[Vember]

Hi Em

Sounds like chronic wet feather caused by either a blocked or infected preen gland, other maybe is infestation of mites, but think it'd effect more than one if that were the case.

Massage preen gland several times a day with a warm compress and might be best to get some antibiotic from a vet.

Hope that a helps



Sarah

[Kate and her Ducks]

Not seen this before but does sound like Sarah's suggestion of Chronic wet feathers.

[Hawkins]

thats brill, next question where is the preen gland. I know sorry I'm a bit thick and my book sare at home.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Preen gland is on their back near their bum (you can see them squeeze it with their bill and then rub their head on it when preening). If you part the feathers you can feel it as a lump a bit bigger than a pea and if you squeeze or rub it your fingers get covered in oil.

[Hawkins]

brill, thanks sarah and kate, will check when i finsih work with a torch see if it looks sore. Will she need baytril from the vets is that the best antibiotic for her.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Dunno. Don't think I would bother with antibiotics unless she seems unwell.

[Hawkins]

Thanks everyone nice to hear from you both. Had a look at her tonight under torchlight and she doesnt seem as wet as yesterday. Dad said she was in the stream for at least 30 mins tonight having a good wash so perhaps she was just feeling a bit off. will keep an eye on her over the next few days and see how she is.

Will definately have to look for the gland on Mr Darcy as he is so daft and still tries to sit in my lap and he is huge now and getting his curly boy bit.

[Vember]

You shouldn't be able to miss it on Mr D as it's covered in baby yellow fluffy wet down type stuff in comparison to his white feathers
Don't know if this is the same on the darker birds I really should have a look
That's my exercise sorted for tomorrow chasing runners


Sarah

[Hawkins]

can we hav a video of you chasing the runners, that would be funny watch out for the pond

[Vember]

can we hav a video of you chasing the runners, that would be funny watch out for the pond

Eeeeerrrrrrrr NO

The amount of wet stuff lyining around I think it would be a film of mainly the sky



Sarah

[Hawkins]

spoil sport.