➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

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littleprairieheartsfarm said:
Yep! I'm just terrified to put him under.. bulldogs aren't good with anesthesia. :hmm

How did today go with the ducks?
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I think I am rushing it a little bit but I am going to try and stick with it. I refilled all of the waterers and their pool today. I brought her in there while it was filling up. Noah kept biting at her neck and wings. She'd lay flat on the ground and submit to him. He'd stand on her (showing his dominance I am assuming). She'd get up. He'd nip at her as she tried to walk by. She'd start to run. He'd chase. Get her down on the ground again and mount her. I'm like, ugh! Go in the water! Is so much better for ya'll! I ended up grabbing him until she got in the pool, then let him go. He mated with her twice while I was out there watching them all interact. But he won't let up on biting her. It's so hard to watch but I feel like I need to let them work it out. Kind of like having to watch Bowie and Elvis duke it out and then doctor and bathe Bowie because he lost. But he gives Elvis some space and he also won't go near Priscilla very often since the fight. I think Elvis made his point. At least for now, boundaries have been established. So maybe this nipping and dominating, no matter how hard it is to watch, is necessary for their cohabitation. As long as Noah isn't damaging her. He's just being a bully right now. When I checked on them this evening, she was walking around a bit slower tho. So I think he is exhausting her with his actions. Idk tho. So I am going to keep bringing her in the house at night. I don't trust them alone at night in their coop yet. So I am going to keep getting them to interact but I def need to keep an eye on them.
 
CrazyCrttr75 said:
I think I am rushing it a little bit but I am going to try and stick with it. I refilled all of the waterers and their pool today. I brought her in there while it was filling up. Noah kept biting at her neck and wings. She'd lay flat on the ground and submit to him. He'd stand on her (showing his dominance I am assuming). She'd get up. He'd nip at her as she tried to walk by. She'd start to run. He'd chase. Get her down on the ground again and mount her. I'm like, ugh! Go in the water! Is so much better for ya'll! I ended up grabbing him until she got in the pool, then let him go. He mated with her twice while I was out there watching them all interact. But he won't let up on biting her. It's so hard to watch but I feel like I need to let them work it out. Kind of like having to watch Bowie and Elvis duke it out and then doctor and bathe Bowie because he lost. But he gives Elvis some space and he also won't go near Priscilla very often since the fight. I think Elvis made his point. At least for now, boundaries have been established. So maybe this nipping and dominating, no matter how hard it is to watch, is necessary for their cohabitation. As long as Noah isn't damaging her. He's just being a bully right now. When I checked on them this evening, she was walking around a bit slower tho. So I think he is exhausting her with his actions. Idk tho. So I am going to keep bringing her in the house at night. I don't trust them alone at night in their coop yet. So I am going to keep getting them to interact but I def need to keep an eye on them.
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I think you are doing the right thing in bringing her in at night. He sounds like he’s being too rough on her. Especially with the slowing down you talked about.

I also wonder what would happen if you brought them into an area that isn’t territory to Noah. Can you put them in a front yard and watch what he does? Or even on the chicken side?
 
CrazyCrttr75 said:
I think I am rushing it a little bit but I am going to try and stick with it. I refilled all of the waterers and their pool today. I brought her in there while it was filling up. Noah kept biting at her neck and wings. She'd lay flat on the ground and submit to him. He'd stand on her (showing his dominance I am assuming). She'd get up. He'd nip at her as she tried to walk by. She'd start to run. He'd chase. Get her down on the ground again and mount her. I'm like, ugh! Go in the water! Is so much better for ya'll! I ended up grabbing him until she got in the pool, then let him go. He mated with her twice while I was out there watching them all interact. But he won't let up on biting her. It's so hard to watch but I feel like I need to let them work it out. Kind of like having to watch Bowie and Elvis duke it out and then doctor and bathe Bowie because he lost. But he gives Elvis some space and he also won't go near Priscilla very often since the fight. I think Elvis made his point. At least for now, boundaries have been established. So maybe this nipping and dominating, no matter how hard it is to watch, is necessary for their cohabitation. As long as Noah isn't damaging her. He's just being a bully right now. When I checked on them this evening, she was walking around a bit slower tho. So I think he is exhausting her with his actions. Idk tho. So I am going to keep bringing her in the house at night. I don't trust them alone at night in their coop yet. So I am going to keep getting them to interact but I def need to keep an eye on them.
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A wise plan. I once had an over zealous drake kill a hen to display dominance... Not cool. That was another that lost his head and got fed to the dogs. I love my hens, but I am pretty over nasty drakes. It took me awhile to get here, what with hatching and raising them up, but I'm just done with the little rapists. My current drake is a Welsh Harlequin and is nice fellow. It took five crappy ones to come across a good one. Only in regards to the standard ducks. My call duck drakes are sweet hearts :)
It sounds like you are using your best judgement, which is really the only thing you can do. Ducks aren't the smartest critters, they'll forget she wasn't always there soon enough and all will return to normal. High five for a new layer duck to just land in your lap! :highfive:
 
littleprairieheartsfarm said:
I think you are doing the right thing in bringing her in at night. He sounds like he’s being too rough on her. Especially with the slowing down you talked about.

I also wonder what would happen if you brought them into an area that isn’t territory to Noah. Can you put them in a front yard and watch what he does? Or even on the chicken side?
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Good point! He might behave less aggressively if she's not on his turf :goodpost:
 
honanbm said:
Good point! He might behave less aggressively if she's not on his turf :goodpost:
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I know drakes can be extremely territorial so I figured it’d be worth a shot. I’ve never dealt with a drake (and I really don’t have any desire for one) so I’m just taking shots in the dark.

Speaking of ducks. Our Cayuga hen is a little hussy. She keeps laying down for our 10 week old gosling and ducklings. The gosling is like “oh sweet!!!” So he(I’m guessing idk) gets up on her, usually backwards and tries to drown her. The ducklings are like “????Rip out your feathers?????”
 
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littleprairieheartsfarm said:
Thank you! I really trust this vet, and he did this exact surgery last week so I know he knows what he’s doing. :) I’m just a worry wort!
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You worry because you care.
littleprairieheartsfarm said:
I think you are doing the right thing in bringing her in at night. He sounds like he’s being too rough on her. Especially with the slowing down you talked about.

I also wonder what would happen if you brought them into an area that isn’t territory to Noah. Can you put them in a front yard and watch what he does? Or even on the chicken side?
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I was thinking about that. My front yard isn't fenced in so I guess I am just paranoid about me not being able to round them back up to go back in their area. It sounds silly even as I type it but I am. I could probably get Noah to come back in, especially if I grabbed some peas for him. But Annabelle is so skittish. She won't eat from my hand. She won't eat peas. She won't touch mealworms. I even tried to tempt her with a little bit of tunafish. Pfft! I sure hope that she figures out that I'm not going to hurt her. I am thinking that putting them on the chicken side wouldn't be a bad idea. I may try that tomorrow and see how they interact.
 

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