Oil Gland

We get quite a few emails about oil glands and feather issues.

The oil gland is located just above the tail of your duck or goose. You will frequently see your bird tucking their head and bill there while preening to gather the oil they need to spread over their feathers using the combs inside their bill.

Inactive or blocked oil gland

Occasionally the oil gland can become blocked and will stop producing some or all of its oil. If you notice a decline in the appearance of your duck’s feathers this could be one of the causes.

Part the feathers over their oil gland and check for obvious swelling that indicates an impacted oil gland. Use your fingers to gently feel along the base of the feathers growing from the gland. Slide your fingers upward along a few of the feathers around the gland and then look at your fingers and rub them together. If you see or feel ample oil on your fingertips, your bird’s oil gland is working fine. If it is difficult for you to collect a decent amount, their oil gland may not be functioning properly or may even be blocked.

When an oil gland becomes blocked, you can try these remedies:

1)  Oil glands can become blocked because of infection. Your vet will likely prescribe a round of Baytril® for 7-14 days. If this does not jump start your bird’s oil gland your vet will usually try to collect a small sample of oil and make a slide to check for the presence of bacteria.

2)  It is important to evaluate your bird’s diet. An improper diet is a common cause of a malfunctioning oil gland. Is your pet duck or goose on brand named food? What kind of snacks are you giving them? Can their diet be improved upon? These are the questions you want to ask yourself and act upon if needed.

3)  Vitamin A deficiency can be another cause of a blocked oil gland. A vitamin supplement should be immediately added to your bird’s diet in addition to antibiotics to ensure that you are addressing every possibility. Gimborn Vionate® Vitamin Mineral Powder for Pets is a very good supplement if used according to the label and is available for purchase on the internet. You can add it directly to your bird’s food. Consult with your vet first to avoid overdosing, which can be potentially dangerous.

4) Hot packs (not too hot!) can be used to provide moist heat therapy directly to the oil gland. Warm, gentle massages to the gland 2-3 times a day can also be effective in getting it working again.

5) Stress can also be the cause of a failing oil duct. If one of your birds is being picked on by another flock member or if they have recently experienced some kind of stress, they may need a quiet reprieve. If you think this may be part of the problem, try giving them their own separate accommodations, where they are still in sight of the others, for some downtime.

6) The implementation of wheat into your bird’s diet can also help their oil gland to recover and produce more oil (brand name foods often have this in the mix). Some vets also advise adding a little bit of fish oil to your bird’s diet. Be careful not to add too much oil. If the oil gets in the comb of their bill and they preen, you will just make matters worse. Another option is to supplement their diet with a bit of small, round cat kibble that has fish oil in it.

Impacted oil gland

An impacted oil gland is usually clearly visible by the time you notice a difference in feather quality. If you part your bird’s feathers and see that the gland is very swollen, you are probably witnessing an impacted oil gland. The same therapies used for both inactive and blocked oil glands may be attempted. Some vets may suggest lancing the gland to empty it out, but if the source of the problem is not resolved, the gland will likely just refill.

Ruptured oil gland

Ruptured glands must be surgically removed immediately and your bird will require antibiotics. A drain may need to be inserted for a few days. Following surgery, your bird will no longer repel water the way they did prior to the operation.

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Chronic Wet Feather

When a duck’s feathers are no longer able to properly repel water, the condition is referred to as wet feather. Sometimes wet feather can be repaired, other times it is in a chronic stage and only a full molt will repair the situation. Even in a chronic situation, it is often possible to at least improve their feather situation and aid in their waterproof effectiveness until the next molt.

Poor feather quality

If your duck or goose’s feathers appear tattered and are not properly “zip locked” together, they will not likely be waterproof. The first part of treatment is to determine the cause of this condition. Review each of these possibilities and see if any apply to your duck or goose.

• Parasites

Does your duck or goose have lice or mites? Have a vet examine your bird to see if there are parasites present. The remedy may be as simple as a powder treatment. However, if the parasite problem has been long-lived, your duck’s feathers may be damaged and they may not recover from wet feather until the parasites are removed and the next molt arrives.

• Bath water shortage

Are you providing your duck or goose with enough fresh water for them to bathe in? If your bird doesn’t have the opportunity to keep clean and oil up, their feathers will lose their ability to repel water. Provided the condition has not gone on for so long as to cause feather damage, the re-introduction of water should lead your pet on the road to recovery.

• Malnutrition

Is your duck or goose on a diet specifically designed for waterfowl? A healthy diet is their main defense against this problem. This explains why you are more apt to see wet feather in ducks who have been dropped off and abandoned on ponds and who are being fed bread as a main staple. They aren’t getting the vitamins and minerals they need to keep themselves and their feathers healthy. Once a proper diet is restored (Mazuri Waterfowl brand feed is our personal favorite), feathers will improve, although full waterproofing may not be accomplished until their next molt.

• Illness

Could your duck or goose be ill? A sick bird can fall behind on the preening and oiling of their feathers. Once health is restored, your bird’s feathers should return to their clean and natural state. During times of illness, it will really help your pet if you carry them to the tub and let them float for a bit and then allow them time to dry on a soft bed of towels.

• Failing oil gland

Is your duck or goose's oil gland functioning properly? A failing oil gland can definitely lead to poor feather quality. Once your duck’s oil gland issue is remedied their feather quality should improve.