9 week old ducklings - two problems I need help with please.

[Dees ducks]

Its a lovely vid and made it me made me smile - ours leg it from the net as well !

Our ducks sometime change their style of swimming when they want to get a good wash on around their 'bits'.

Also, we see some of them do things just for hell of it / cos they feel like it in their pools.

If he's eating, pooping, keeping up, not losing weight, seems happy - I say accept Winston's style ! Go do your thing Winston !

thanks for the comment. Yep - am just going to let him do his own thing! He's happy and healthy so who am I to complain.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Hi All BYC!
Well I haven't posted for a while because I hatched 6 out of 6 welsh magpies that are now 9 weeks old. Needless to say they (and my other 7 adult ducks) are keeping me very busy.
I have 2 problems which I hope you lovely people can help me with.
1. 2 out of the 6 ducklings struggle when in pond. They very rarely get in the pond, and when they do, their tails stick vertically up and they frantically bicycle with their feet instead of floating gently like the other 4? They are healthy, eating, feathers looking good so am a bit puzzled as to this behavior.
2. My drake Donald keeps chasing after the ducklings and won't give them any peace. He tries to grab them bu the neck and just won't leave them alone. They have their separate (small area), however, I let them all out together for a few hours every day and have been doing this for the past 2 weeks. I knew at first that there might be a bit of squabbling but thought that it would get better, however, Donald is still going after them. I intervene before any harm is done but was wondering if I should just leave them get on with it. The ducklings are as big as the older ducks now but I just want to get to the stage when I can just leave them all out together in the garden instead of separating the ducklings in a too small area because I'm afraid Donald will harm them.
Thank you all for any suggestions.

Apologies for missing the question !

I have two thoughts on this (apart from naughty Donald obvs !).

1. Permanent separation where everyone can still see each other until the ducks become bigger.

2. Behaviour aversion therapy - we do this with a nice long bamboo cane. It means spending time with them but with a minimal presence. As soon as theres duck behaviour you dont want, put the cane down between naughty duck and their intended victim. No need to touch anyone with it or have it whip through the air - just let them know the stick turns up and blocks their path. Ducks are super clever and work it out very quickly (a bit like learning to leg it when the net comes out ).

Donald probably wants some, erm, one on one time with his ladies and sees the duckling preventing that so is a bit grumpy.

Good luck !

 

[Dees ducks]

Apologies for missing the question !

I have two thoughts on this (apart from naughty Donald obvs !).

1. Permanent separation where everyone can still see each other until the ducks become bigger.

2. Behaviour aversion therapy - we do this with a nice long bamboo cane. It means spending time with them but with a minimal presence. As soon as theres duck behaviour you dont want, put the cane down between naughty duck and their intended victim. No need to touch anyone with it or have it whip through the air - just let them know the stick turns up and blocks their path. Ducks are super clever and work it out very quickly (a bit like learning to leg it when the net comes out ).

Donald probably wants some, erm, one on one time with his ladies and sees the duckling preventing that so is a bit grumpy.

Good luck !

Ha, love your reply.
Have tried the aversion therapy by picking Donald up (when he's really naughty) and giving him loads of cuddles and kisses (he hates this). Believe it or not - he's actually much better. I'm still not confident in leaving them all together unsupervised, however, his advances are not so energetic! Also, ducklings are now pretty much the same size as Donald and I think he's beginning to cotton on to this (he's not the brightest spark). Hopefully another week will do it. Also, I think your right about why he is acting so strange, I think too that he's just a bit protective of his ladies as he acts like a sentry, strutting back and forth in front of his girls whist glaring at the new baby duckies! It's quite fascinating (and funny) to watch. Deep down I think he's just a big softy.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Ha, love your reply.
Have tried the aversion therapy by picking Donald up (when he's really naughty) and giving him loads of cuddles and kisses (he hates this). Believe it or not - he's actually much better. I'm still not confident in leaving them all together unsupervised, however, his advances are not so energetic! Also, ducklings are now pretty much the same size as Donald and I think he's beginning to cotton on to this (he's not the brightest spark). Hopefully another week will do it. Also, I think your right about why he is acting so strange, I think too that he's just a bit protective of his ladies as he acts like a sentry, strutting back and forth in front of his girls whist glaring at the new baby duckies! It's quite fascinating (and funny) to watch. Deep down I think he's just a big softy.

Oh bless his little socks !

Sounds like he is doing his manly drake thing which is normal this time of the year.

Also sounds like you've got some great duck TV going on - I am glad all is settling down.

And if you can get a picture of Donald doing his comedy glare at the ducklings - pls share here !

My #1 stud duck has taught my KC ladies to freeze at the waft of an aerial predator. Frequently it looks like that Charlies Angels poster with him in the middle and these four KC's poking out from behind him at different angles.

If I could just get a pic !

 

[Dees ducks]

Oh bless his little socks !

Sounds like he is doing his manly drake thing which is normal this time of the year.

Also sounds like you've got some great duck TV going on - I am glad all is settling down.

And if you can get a picture of Donald doing his comedy glare at the ducklings - pls share here !

My #1 stud duck has taught my KC ladies to freeze at the waft of an aerial predator. Frequently it looks like that Charlies Angels poster with him in the middle and these four KC's poking out from behind him at different angles.

If I could just get a pic !

Really funny - I can see it now - the duck version of a Charlies Angels poster!
Donald, on the other hand loves to strut and he's been the only male with 6 females now for 10 months! I will try to get a good picture, however, when I get near he moves away because he thinks "Oh no- she's coming to pick me up and slobber all over me again"

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Really funny - I can see it now - the duck version of a Charlies Angels poster!
Donald, on the other hand loves to strut and he's been the only male with 6 females now for 10 months! I will try to get a good picture, however, when I get near he moves away because he thinks "Oh no- she's coming to pick me up and slobber all over me again"

Mine are the same - there is a lovely vid on the forum with these ducks charging towards their owner to gobble up the bowl of peas.

Here it is : https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-babies-not-so-baby-now.1394065/

Mine are all 'put the peas DOWN and STEP AWAY'.