The integumentary system of birds is quite different from that of mammals. The
current study was applied on the skin covering the head of sudanese duck (cairina
moschata) from hatching day until the skin became mature. In all different ages. The
skin is composed of epidermis, dermis and subcutes. The epidermis consists of stratum
cornium and stratum germinitivum. The later is formed of stratum basal, stratum
intermedium and stratum transivitium. The dermis is divided into stratum superficiale,
stratum compactum, stratum laxum and lamina elastic. The skin of Sudanese duck was
as any bird, characterized by feathers which generate from dermal papilla. The dermal
papilla with the epidermal collar formed the blastema which found at early age,
particularly at hatching day. Feather follicle was completely mature at two months.
The completely formed feather was pushed by the new formed feather through the
same dermal papilla. The maturity of the skin of head region is mainly associated with
the maturity of the head feathers