Bantam duck with odd habit...

[Devildollx]

20190620_134955

• Devildollx
• Jun 20, 2019

This is my 9-week old call duck Beans. She, just like the Rouen I had before her, has recently become OBSESSED with eating my hair!! My Rouen Pepper used to go after my hair all the time (as well as my shoelaces and any strings she could find attached to my clothing) and now Beans has started doing it too. I don't understand it, but I'm worried Beans will manage to swallow some of it and I don't want it hurting her little digestive system. I stop her whenever I can but she'll sneak up behind me sometimes and grab a mouthful before I even realize it! Such a stinker....

 

[Miss Lydia]

She is adorable!! But she really can get backed up in her crop with hair .

 

[Devildollx]

She is adorable!! But she really can get backed up in her crop with hair .

That's exactly what I'm worried about, I just don't know how to get her to stop

 

[Miss Lydia]

Keep her away from your hair. Or wear a shower cap or some other cap while around her an put your hair up where she can’t get to it.

 

[Jpat]

Could it be her diet? Like when they eat feathers because of protein defficiency

 

[Devildollx]

Could it be her diet? Like when they eat feathers because of protein defficiency

Thank you so much for that info! I've been noticing lately that she is constantly eating her feathers and I couldn't figure out why, but now I know! Do you have any suggestions for the best way to incorporate more protein into her diet?

 

[Miss Lydia]

What are you feeding her? For extra protein you could sprinkle a little cat food dry fish based over her feed or dried meal worms.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Could it be her diet? Like when they eat feathers because of protein defficiency

good call @Jpat!

 

[chickens really]

Sounds like stress if eating her own feathers. She is depressed I believe because you don't have another Duck for her to interact with. Ducks need other Ducks.

 

[Devildollx]

What are you feeding her? For extra protein you could sprinkle a little cat food dry fish based over her feed or dried meal worms.

She gets dried meal worms every day and loves them, but perhaps they are still not providing enough protein for her.. I will try some cat food and see if that helps!