What's wrong with these mallards? Pics

[Killer Miller]

Well boys, me and kingkilla managed to kill 2 mallards and 1 gadwall this evening. The mallards looked just like your regular mallards ( the drake was big and fully plumed) except they were both missing alot of feathers on their back. :? Me and king dont know whats up. When I saw it on the drake, I just figured it was from the pellets exiting the bird, since I shot it really close going away with my patternmaster. Then we saw that the hen was the same way. Any ways, here are a few pictures...tell me what you guys think it is.

Me with the birds and my killer red eyes (it was pitch black so the flash from my camera gave me some serious devil eyes).
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/KillerMiller19_2006/DSCN0657.jpg

Here are their backs.....
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/KillerMiller19_2006/DSCN0660.jpg

Another.......
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/KillerMiller19_2006/DSCN0659.jpg

And the greenhead's back...
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/KillerMiller19_2006/DSCN0661.jpg

Whats the verdict boys? :?

[kingkilla]

im not going to lie. the verdict is those red eyes are out of control. i would say bird flu. hehehehehe :roll:

[SMOKE]

i had a teal with the same thing....

[mdh2ofowler]

id take em to your dnr, looks like some kinda infection, im no expert but ive taken a wildlife disease class at college and that looks like the signs of some sorta avian infection

[Killer Miller]

mdh2, avian infection as in avian flu as in the scientific name for bird flu? I might take them to the dnr. But I wouldnt know where, i guess jsut call the dnr huh?

[Kelly Rees]

lice?

Maybe they got jumped by a coon or fox or something. I would bet lice though. Look close and see if you can find some.

chewing lice
over 3,000 described species
infest birds and mammals; most on birds
most ingest feathers or hair; some live off epithelial cells, mucus, or even sebaceous secretions; a few chew into quills of birds and feed on blood
wingless
dorso-ventrally flattened
no ocelli
antennae short, with 3-5 segments
separate sexes
eggs usually cemented to feathers or hair of the host
head usually broader than prothorax
mandibles conspicuous, used to cut off pieces of feathers or hair; maxillae and labium reduced
species may cause dermal lesions, feather or hair damage, irritation, restlessness, etc.
typical life-cycle
eggs attached to hair or feathers
a nymph hatches 3-14 days later
3 nymphal instars (about 1 week each)
molt into adult; mate

[HRK]

basically guy's you defeathered them when ya shot em!!!! have done this many times even on ganders, them there birds must have been close aye!them there patternmasters sure put a hurtin on em!! what size shot ya where ya throwin BB? also was the skin fresh lookin? still think ya defeathered em not the bird flu :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[SMOKE]

3.5 supreme 2's

[HRK]

DANG KELLY
U SHUR R SMART read it 3 times yuall must be very well edjecated!! did'nt understand a d#mn thing ya said just kiddin im still bettin they blew the feathers off em :shock:

[Kelly Rees]

I aint smart, just know how to copy and paste real good! I would bet on the blew 'em up theory but if that aint the case I think that hens been out whorin and gave her boyfriend the crabs.

[Killer Miller]

Hunters ridge, thats what I thought at first. But I dont think thats what happened. I was just shooting 3 inch 1 1/8 oz. in #3's. I shot the hen cupped up coming right at me and shot the drake flaring over top of me ( I almost fell over trying to kill him without having to twist to shoot, which I did not have to twist. I ruined his evening with the lady for sure :lol: ) The shot hit the drake in the rear and chest, not in the back at all either. SO I really dont think I shot the feathers out. The feathers that are missing in the exact same spot on both ducks. SO I dunno :?

[HRK]

KILLER
just like i said had it happen to me blew all the feathers of a ganders breast last year! not even a pellet hole just featers floatin to the ground and a stone cold bird! weird sh#t happens did the same thing to a woodie and a drake mallard this year both with frontal shots at about 20yrds 3"#2s imp mod choke reminton sportsman high speed steel

[Duck Hunter Paul]

You see that on deer all the time, it comes from the birds crawling under a fence or scratching their backs on the cages you let them out of :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[corey carston]

Ive seen things like this over here my freinds dog had a ting for licking ducks she always did it on there backs and if left alone the birds would be bald could well be some sort of lice were they in good nick as poor birds feathers tend to fall out easier that good ones.

[Killer Miller]

Thanks for all the good ideas of what it may have been. Im still not sure what happened. :? I didnt take the birds to the DNR or anything so we'll never know for sure what was the deal.

[TwinCreeks]

I've shot the feathers off of ducks like that before...espically woodies when they fly right beside the tree im sitting at :D