Aggressively Adorable but.. Aggressive none the less

[Royaly Ducked]

So.. In April I got a couple ducks. We swore they were girls.. did the whole vent sex thing which made me, as a new duck mom, very uncomfortable. We used to joke that they would need therapy as teens...

Well.. they were females for about a month.. then one male one female for a month.. then now they are both males... Fish and Chips.

Fish and chips are quite aggressive. Not to me but to the dogs, and anything their size outside. This has led to some 'accidents' inside because the dogs can't poop outside without being molested. I have kept them locked up at night in the garden now so the dogs can go at night.

Yesterday we got a couple more (which are spending their first days as females too.. God please let them stay females *lol* I don't know what I'd do with 4 male ducks!) Now Cheese and Quackers aren't very well received, Fish and Chips are kind of stand offish, and bowed their heads to attack a couple times. However, they know that the meal worms only come if they are behaving so, they quit as soon as I pulled the meal worms back..

Is it safe to integrate? Ever? Should I just wait until Cheese and Quackers are older? If so, How old?

How do I make them stop attacking the dogs. My old mountain dog (13) took a mouthful of feathers out of Chips because he wouldn't quit trying to mount him.. I really can't blame the dog but.. it didn't deter Chips in the SLIGHTEST! I've never seen anything like it. Fish will forgo food to chase the little dog around the yard. I half think the little one is playing but I know Fish isn't.

This is Cheese and Quackers

Fish Attacking our Foster dog

Fish and Chips in our makeshift cover, they have a pool and umbrella but they like attacking the dogs the second they get out the dog door.

 

[slordaz]

So.. In April I got a couple ducks. We swore they were girls.. did the whole vent sex thing which made me, as a new duck mom, very uncomfortable. We used to joke that they would need therapy as teens...

Well.. they were females for about a month.. then one male one female for a month.. then now they are both males... Fish and Chips.

Fish and chips are quite aggressive. Not to me but to the dogs, and anything their size outside. This has led to some 'accidents' inside because the dogs can't poop outside without being molested. I have kept them locked up at night in the garden now so the dogs can go at night.

Yesterday we got a couple more (which are spending their first days as females too.. God please let them stay females *lol* I don't know what I'd do with 4 male ducks!) Now Cheese and Quackers aren't very well received, Fish and Chips are kind of stand offish, and bowed their heads to attack a couple times. However, they know that the meal worms only come if they are behaving so, they quit as soon as I pulled the meal worms back..

Is it safe to integrate? Ever? Should I just wait until Cheese and Quackers are older? If so, How old?

How do I make them stop attacking the dogs. My old mountain dog (13) took a mouthful of feathers out of Chips because he wouldn't quit trying to mount him.. I really can't blame the dog but.. it didn't deter Chips in the SLIGHTEST! I've never seen anything like it. Fish will forgo food to chase the little dog around the yard. I half think the little one is playing but I know Fish isn't.

This is Cheese and Quackers View attachment 1884782
Fish Attacking our Foster dog

View attachment 1884784

Fish and Chips in our makeshift cover, they have a pool and umbrella but they like attacking the dogs the second they get out the dog door.
View attachment 1884780

I would let the ducklings get bigger, maybe find a couple hens the size of the older drakes, and you may need to to either pen the drakes up or make a run for the dogs so they can enjoy time outside too without being molested by the drakes. Sometimes penning the drakes up so you can let the dogs otu will teach them to behave.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You def don’t want 2 hormonal drakes with ducklings. And @slordaz rec giving your dogs their own area separate area. Dogs can only take so much and it may not turn out so well for the drakes.

 

[Royaly Ducked]

Is there a way to calm the drakes? I mean.. when we bring em inside and snuggle them, once they settle.. they are soo stinking sweet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hormones are the culprit here. The only way to deal with it is neuter and I haven’t heard of drakes being neutered. Best just to keep them and the dogs separated.

 

[bluemerle]

Waterfowl don't mess around with predators. Even my hen would go after dogs and cats who were bigger than her - trying to scare them off. Best just to keep a fence between the dogs and ducks.