My duck is molting, and has dandruff - is something wrong with it?

Answer by  Huntress (1935)

Ducks shed their feathers twice a year and most birds have dandruff. You should not be concerned unless the duck is molting more than normal.

Answer by  Tgarden (96)

Nothing is wrong with your duck. When birds get new feathers, they are rolled up in papery sheaths and are called pinfeathers. These sheaths slough off of the pinfeathers when the birds preen, and this create the dandruff that you see. It only means your bird is getting new feathers.

Answer by  Sinefey (457)

The "dandruff" you are seeing is most likely from the new feathers. When feathers are growing in they have a keratin "sheath" that protects them, as the feather matures the bird preens and the sheath slowly flakes off, looking exactly like birdy dandruff, all perfectly normal.