A couple rookie questions

[Makenzie]

I have a couple of stupid questions and even stupid questions have to be asked before there can be an answers. I have Storey's Guide To Raising Ducks on order so hopefully I won't have to keep bothering people with questions like this.

First, duckling body language. Why is my Rouen always bullying my Blue Swede? I've dealt with the feather pulling by keeping them apart when in their cage and both of them yell about it constantly. When I have them together inside a small exercise pen for swimming lessons (waiting for the day they finally get it, that it finally clicks for them that they are supposed to like being in the water) I stay near them. Same when I put them outdoors in their 'playpen'. Squeak is always herding Pip to desired locations with nips, always wanting to nibble on Pip, and when they get into the basin containing an inch of water Squeak treats Pips feet like they are food and goes for them. When resting Squeak will wind up partially laying on Pip and pushes down with the bill resting it firmly across the area on Pip where the neck meets the body. Pip on the other hand is a rather mellow duckling.

Second, I've taken advice from here and started using peas for the ducklings. All that's available around here is packaged sugar snap peas that I've been getting for the rabbit(s) for about as long as one was living. Rabbits I've known have the same love affair with peas that ducks do. Can the ducklings have pieces of the pod or do I stick with mushing the peas into two tiny pieces? I've also taken advice from here and started giving them tiny pieces of lettuce that I throw in the water.

Third, is it true domestic ducks are nocturnal? It makes me laugh how much they mutter to themselves and talk to each other. Some nights it goes on thru the night while other nights I don't hear a sound out of them until it's light outside.

 

[m.kitchengirl]

Welcome!
Don't worry about asking questions - that is what the forums are for.
Storey's Guide (and other publications) can sometimes trigger more questions rather than fewer questions.
Last year, when I was getting into ducks, I read way too much. I wound up with more ideas than one person can handle.

It sounds like Squeak is asserting his authority over Pip, but I have only had a few ducklings and never had them squabble over pecking order. (Probably more about how few ducklings I have raised than anything else.)

I give my older ducks the shells from peas from my garden, as well as the leaves and stems. But I think young ducklings may still have trouble with the shells. Are they getting grit yet?

Domestic ducks don't have night blindness like chickens. Mine sleep (mostly) at night, but they definitely are up & around periodically throughout the evening, especially now that they are laying.

I hope I have been helpful. I am sure someone else will chime in with another perspective that is very different from mine. That is the great thing about these forums, and sometimes the curse of them for new owners.

Good luck. Welcome to the weird world of domestic ducks.