6 week old runner duckling is a trouble maker!

[heatherscreations1969]

Hi everyone, I have had Indian Runner ducks for 2 years now and have never had any problems with any new ducklings until now.

This time I have one duckling that keeps attacking the others, even ducks that are a lot bigger than her! I currently have 10 ducklings, 8 runners and 2 campbells (until the next lot hatch that is) and 1 runner keeps biting, pulling feathers out of the others wing tips and bottoms of the other ducks when they are in the pool.....I keep spraying anti-septic on the wounded ones and also some anti-peck (but that doesn't work)......I am at a loss as to why she is doing this, she is hurting everyone, I am seriously thinking of putting her into time out away from the others.

Has anyone else had this problem before?

Oh they are still on chick crumb with added niacin, tomatoes and salad.

H

 

[Amiga]

She may just be a stinker.

I think timeout makes sense. And just in case, I would give her vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics once a week, in the unlikely case it's some kind of deficiency other than niacin. She may have some kind of inflammation making her cranky. See if her joints feel too warm, if her poop is normal.

 

[heatherscreations1969]

She may just be a stinker.

I think timeout makes sense. And just in case, I would give her vitamins-electrolytes-probiotics once a week, in the unlikely case it's some kind of deficiency other than niacin. She may have some kind of inflammation making her cranky. See if her joints feel too warm, if her poop is normal.

Healthwise, she seems healthy but I will double check.
From observing them today, she doesn't like anyone else in the pool with her....as soon as someone gets into the pool she chases them around, nips them until they get out and then goes back to leisurely swimming around.....it is strange behaviour for sure.

H

 

[Amiga]

Wait a minute. How old is she?

 

[heatherscreations1969]

Wait a minute. How old is she?

6 weeks,

Too small to go in with the adults, so I am stuck as what to do for the best at the minute.

H

 

[Frank Phinster]

Sounds like feather pecking to me...Have you noticed a preference of bloodquills?

 

[heatherscreations1969]

Sounds like feather pecking to me...Have noticed a preference of bloodquills?

yes.....Does feather pecking happen this young though? It is a first for me in ducks....have had it before in chickens.

H

 

[Frank Phinster]

My books say that young ducks are prone to feather pecking. The exact reasons for feather pecking are not clearly known, though. Suggestions range from nutrition to boredom.

 

[heatherscreations1969]

Ok spoke to a vet over the phone today.....he thinks it sounds as though she has a calcium deficiency, he is posting out some liquid calcium.
It is strange, never had a duckling act like this before, hope the liquid calcium helps.

H

 

[Frank Phinster]

Then here is hoping that this will work. I have no personal experience with this, but as far as I have read birds that got the habit do barely stop.
But on the other hand, they say the same about egg eating, and I once had ducks that got the habit and lost it again.

How are the ducks doing?