5 week old Muscovy ducklings peck 1 week old newcomer

[MauiDuckmom]

Aloha everyone,

I’m new here! I have three Muscovy ducklings that I’ve been raising since a week old. They are 5 weeks old now. (Ms Rona, Earl and Alfred J. kwak)They seem to be doing really well.

I’ve been handling them every day and they’re very friendly and happy ducks. Yesterday I got a message from a friend who had gotten a 1 week old Muscovy duckling, who was ofcourse really lonely and sad and she didn’t know what to do with it. Obviously I said, bring it to me and I’ll introduce it to my other ducks!

the intitial meeting went very well, outside in the grass, plenty of space to run. It wasn’t for long the 5 week olds started ganging up on the baby. I tried to let nature run it’s course for a while but when things got too rough I had to pull the baby out! I figured they probably need to establish some pecking order and show who’s boss around here. The baby (Fin is her name) really really wants to sit with the big ducks and be with them so I’ve been giving the baby some supervised outside time with the big guys but it always ends up the same way, she’s getting pecked and legs and wings pulled.

Now I’ve made a cage so they can see eachother and the 5 week olds can stick their necks in and through but Fin can choose to get away.

obviously the 5wk olds are a little hard to see gender but I’m fairly certain that I have one drake (Earl) one hen (ms. Rona) and Alfred I’m not sure of. The baby I have not a clue (sure hope it’s a hen).

Just wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions about this. Maybe some words of reassurance haha because I really hope Fin can eventually join the flock.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It will take some time for them to accept that new one. Keep up what you are doing. Don't leave them alone unsupervised together at least for a couple of weeks. By than they may have forgotten the new one doesn't belong.

 

[MauiDuckmom]

Thanks a lot!! I figured they’d eventually accept her but gosh, I’m new to ducks so maybe I was doing it wrong

 

[BigLar368]

We had have the same problem right now but it's with younger chicks. I though the chickens would be the problem but it's the ducks. They are brutal...lol. We are just going to have to keep them separated for while till they become more accustomed to them.

 

[Humanbean68]

I'm having this problem with two adult females and three 8 week old ducklings bullying two new 3 week old ducklings. The older ducklings seem to be fine with them and they will cuddle up together, but the two adult females keep attacking them and pecking at their heads! I've only been able to manage very short super vised visits, and they are separated the rest of the time. Really hoping it passes.....

 

[MauiDuckmom]

Same here! The pecking is brutal too! It’s mostly when the baby goes in for a tomato (which my other ducks don’t even eat or like) and they feel
The need to come over and peck her and chase her - jealous little sh*%s

 

[MauiDuckmom]

these moments in between give me the feeling they’re going to eventually be Oke!!

 

[Humanbean68]

Yes, I've had a few of those moments to which gives me hope.