Young Ducks with Scruffy Tails

[Anonymous]

I take a lot of pictures of the ducks in my community's millpond, Brighton, Michigan. Consequently, I know when new ducks arrive, often dumped there when owners get tired of tending them. Two recent arrivals have what I call "scruffy tails." They are young ducks and small. Their tail feathers don't come to a point like most ducks their age. Instead, they flair out. When they swim, they seem to have trouble doing it. Their paddling is haphazzard.

I'm wondering if they didn't receive adequate nutrition in their early weeks, but they seem healthy and active so I wonder if they are a particular breeding stock that sports this characteristic. When they swim, their tails are upright, more like a Ruddy duck but they are clearly of Mallard stock.

Any information would be appreciated and, if I can feed them something that might help them grow, let me know.

Thanks

 

[dorsetduckowner]

Ahh so nice you keep an eye on them!!!

These ducks look fine to me, they may be a bit scruffy as it is molting season

Nutritional crisis at a young age will more likely result in leg weakness and angel wing

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x

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear they look alright to you.