Why do all the ducklings/ young ducks all attack this one certain duck

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Jody

Jody

Songster
10 Years
Nov 8, 2009
215
6
111
Epping, NH
My first duck was a call duck, about a yr old now I think. I then got two Welsh Harlequin ducklings.. They're now about 2 and half months.. They always attack this call duck whenever she is in the pool.. they always did this even when they were little.. This call duck is blind, but I've also been told that she's retarded, lol.. she looks fine and healthy, but when she's walking or swimming, it's always in circles.. she sometimes walks into things too.

So, I thought maybe it was the breed difference, but now I have 5 call ducklings, they're about a little over a month now I think and they too attack this duck.. I housed them with her and often see them going after her.

So, why are all my ducks being bullies and picking on the blind girl?


OH.. also, when I have the call ducklings in the pool, the Welsh Harlequins go after them.. They're females, I don't know the sexes of the call ducklings yet, but see them being attacked if I'm not next to the pool
 
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Ducks do have a pecking order just like chickens- So its more than likely the younger ducks- being raised together are asserting their dominance over the call. Being blind would also make this alot easier for them to achieve.

I had a similar thing happen here when I introduced some younger ducklings into a brooder containing a blind duck. Although the older three- including the blind duck are now 5 weeks old- and the younger ones were 2 weeks old- One of the younger does pick on Steve- Ray quite alot.

I plan to have my duck in a small sectioned off part of the yard where food and water will always be in the same place. I will alternate companion ducks in the yard for her- as she does find food and water by listening to where the other ducks are. How have you set things up for your call?? Have you found you had to do things a certain way to cater for her inability to see?
 
All birds will attack the one that does not appear normal. Its a defense system that will protect the rest of the flock if a bird has a disease. It a genetic trait and they all have it. Blindness is not a disease to us, but the other birds don't know that. All they know something is not right. I had quails that at only 2 days of age attacked one in their flock. I separated that one and sure enough something was wrong with it, because it died 2 days later.
 
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It is a pecking order and it is the fact that the blind duck doesn't fight back. This leaves the door open for all the other ducks to prove they are higher in the order of things. Also, mother natures way of saying the duck is not normal. Poor little guy. I hope you find at least one duck that will befriend him. It would be nice if any animal would adopt him. I know my dog would.
 

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