Muscovy Duck Tough Love :)

backyardinosaur · May 27, 2016

Hey guys!

My 5 week Muscovy duckling, Ralphy, is super sweet and cuddly and a lot of fun. However, sometimes he gets to biting my hand and can get a bit too rough. I can tell he really enjoys it because he sits down on me and closes his eyes really sweetly while he does it lol

I'd like to reprimand him, but I'm not sure how you punish a duck... I've read somewhere on here that you push him down to show dominance? or tap his bill? I've tried making a yelp noise when he does it to startle him (like you would with a puppy) and tapping his chest lightly and also just saying no and moving away. I don't want to scare him away, but it would be nice to know the correct and most effective way to reprimand him.

This is the little stinker:

Thanks!!
Lauren

Amiga · May 27, 2016

Well, I think Ralphy's in love. With you. Which is understandable.

Seems to me it's going to take a while. So be patient.

@Miss Lydia

had to deal with some challenging behavior with her Muscovy drake a while back.

Miss Lydia · May 27, 2016

I found with my Scovy drake tough love was the only way to get him to realize He couldn't bite me or jump on my back etc.

I gently pushed him down on his belly and put one hand where his back and neck meet and the other hand where his tail and back meet, I didn't talk to him at all while holding him down but as soon as he quit fighting I let him up if he started again I did it again. It did take a while but he learned and we have a very close relationship he will be 5 yrs old June 2nd. I've had him since he hatched. Keep your hands away from his bill.

Ralphy is adorable. @backyardinosaur

backyardinosaur · May 27, 2016

Miss Lydia said:
I found with my Scovy drake tough love was the only way to get him to realize He couldn't bite me or jump on my back etc.

I gently pushed him down on his belly and put one hand where his back and neck meet and the other hand where his tail and back meet, I didn't talk to him at all while holding him down but as soon as he quit fighting I let him up if he started again I did it again. It did take a while but he learned and we have a very close relationship he will be 5 yrs old June 2nd. I've had him since he hatched. Keep your hands away from his bill.

Ralphy is adorable. @backyardinosaur

Thanks for the great advice! When you say it will take a while how long roughly did it take you? A few weeks or months?

You seem to know a lot about Muscovy ducks! Are they pretty smart birds? Not that it would make a difference. They've just always seemed clever to me.

I'm planning to keep mine indoors for the time being but not forever. Do you have any advice on that? I've ordered a duck diaper and it's on it's way.

Again, thanks so much!

backyardinosaur · May 27, 2016

Miss Lydia said:
I found with my Scovy drake tough love was the only way to get him to realize He couldn't bite me or jump on my back etc.

I gently pushed him down on his belly and put one hand where his back and neck meet and the other hand where his tail and back meet, I didn't talk to him at all while holding him down but as soon as he quit fighting I let him up if he started again I did it again. It did take a while but he learned and we have a very close relationship he will be 5 yrs old June 2nd. I've had him since he hatched. Keep your hands away from his bill.

Ralphy is adorable. @backyardinosaur

Also, is yours affectionate to you?

Miss Lydia · May 28, 2016

backyardinosaur said:
Thanks for the great advice! When you say it will take a while how long roughly did it take you? A few weeks or months?

You seem to know a lot about Muscovy ducks! Are they pretty smart birds? Not that it would make a difference. They've just always seemed clever to me.

I'm planning to keep mine indoors for the time being but not forever. Do you have any advice on that? I've ordered a duck diaper and it's on it's way.

Again, thanks so much!

It's been a while and even now I have to remind him at times I am not one of his girls. He is very smart though and mostly likes to bite my dh lol {opie thinks of my dh as another drake] So I am working on getting my dh to do the same as I did instead of pushing him away etc. It's funny DH say's when it's just him and Opie he is sweet to him too but if I come out Opie starts messing with DH biting him flaring his wings out. Yep he really thinks DH is another drake.

Another thing that really helped my drake was when he turned 2 months old we went and got him 3 female scovy's of his very own. It really isn't a good idea to raise a drake on his own they need that female ducks to release some of the pent up hormones that are racing through their bodies. He now has 6 females so he is very busy. Are you sure Ralphy is a drake? because females can become bity too.

backyardinosaur said:
Also, is yours affectionate to you?

Oh my yes Opie loves for me to hug and smooch on him. especially when Mating season is over. He gets enough smooching when that is going on. lol

jennifleur · May 28, 2016

Could we see some more pics? Your guy has very shapely ankles for a boy..... Girls get bitey also. Teves dad made a clever toy for his little ones. Watermelon in the rind, and holding greens like collards, letting them snatch and rip it from your hands is great fun for lings.

backyardinosaur · May 28, 2016

Miss Lydia said:
It's been a while and even now I have to remind him at times I am not one of his girls. He is very smart though and mostly likes to bite my dh lol {opie thinks of my dh as another drake] So I am working on getting my dh to do the same as I did instead of pushing him away etc. It's funny DH say's when it's just him and Opie he is sweet to him too but if I come out Opie starts messing with DH biting him flaring his wings out. Yep he really thinks DH is another drake.

Another thing that really helped my drake was when he turned 2 months old we went and got him 3 female scovy's of his very own. It really isn't a good idea to raise a drake on his own they need that female ducks to release some of the pent up hormones that are racing through their bodies. He now has 6 females so he is very busy. Are you sure Ralphy is a drake? because females can become bity too.

Oh my yes Opie loves for me to hug and smooch on him. especially when Mating season is over. He gets enough smooching when that is going on. lol

I love the name Opie! I've been using your advice on holding him down lightly when he starts to get really bitey, and it seems to have made a significant difference. I know he's still pretty young and probably hasn't entered that stage but I'd like to think of it as progress lol... He hardly bites at all now and if he does it's very very light quick nibbling. Almost like preening like he does to himself. He doesn't really grab the skin at all. I haven't been reprimanding this but should I?

I will keep your advice about getting females in mind for sure. It makes sense that that would ease his intensity and I want him to be happy!

backyardinosaur · May 28, 2016

jennifleur said:
Could we see some more pics? Your guy has very shapely ankles for a boy..... Girls get bitey also. Teves dad made a clever toy for his little ones. Watermelon in the rind, and holding greens like collards, letting them snatch and rip it from your hands is great fun for lings.

Thank you for the tip about the toys! Those are awesome ideas and I can help him eat the watermelon!

As for the girly ankles, my pics may have been a little misleading... He's got pretty thick ones and big feat. Also a ton of feathering but no wingys. here are a few better pictures.

jennifleur · Jun 1, 2016

Lol, thats a cute duckling! I love his sly smile. Grandpa would say, "That ones full of p*** and vinegar!"

Muscovy Duck Tough Love :)

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