I know I don't post often. But, I do read a lot here since I have 5 ducks. My 3, original, ducks are: Peepers (a mallard drake), Spot (a Swedish blue duck), and Raspberry (a Swedish blue drake). I have 2 mallard girls inside my house who are only 7 weeks old, now. They will be out there, eventually. But, for now, it's just the 3.
On Easter Sunday, my hubby built a separate space, intended for Peepers and the new girls; leaving Spot & Raspberry together in the older enclosure. As expected, Peepers & Raspberry had been fighting. So, I separated them so they wouldn't hurt each other or Spot.
FFWD 2 weeks - I've only gotten about 4 eggs from Spot since I took Peepers out of the old enclosure and put him in the new enclosure. They are right next to each other. So, all 3 can see each other just fine. But, egg laying has dropped off, drastically. I've gotten 1 egg per day since December 2, 2013 from her. AND Peepers still has his winter look. He hasn't changed to a green head yet. I would think he'd look like a typical mallard drake this late in the spring!!
This morning, I switched the boys. I put Peepers in with Spot and put Raspberry inside the new enclosure. It seems to me that Peepers flanks Spot wherever she goes. Raspberry wasn't doing that when he was in there with her. He stayed pretty close. But, not at all like Peepers.
Anyone have any thoughts on the situation?? Do you think I was wrong to switch the boys? Please, comment. I am looking for some experienced duck owners' answers. I want them to be happy. And non-egg-laying ducks means unhappy ones, I think. I know they're pretty sensitive to change. I'm just trying to figure out the best case scenario for all of them so they're all happy. Is that even possible?? ...
On Easter Sunday, my hubby built a separate space, intended for Peepers and the new girls; leaving Spot & Raspberry together in the older enclosure. As expected, Peepers & Raspberry had been fighting. So, I separated them so they wouldn't hurt each other or Spot.
FFWD 2 weeks - I've only gotten about 4 eggs from Spot since I took Peepers out of the old enclosure and put him in the new enclosure. They are right next to each other. So, all 3 can see each other just fine. But, egg laying has dropped off, drastically. I've gotten 1 egg per day since December 2, 2013 from her. AND Peepers still has his winter look. He hasn't changed to a green head yet. I would think he'd look like a typical mallard drake this late in the spring!!
This morning, I switched the boys. I put Peepers in with Spot and put Raspberry inside the new enclosure. It seems to me that Peepers flanks Spot wherever she goes. Raspberry wasn't doing that when he was in there with her. He stayed pretty close. But, not at all like Peepers.
Anyone have any thoughts on the situation?? Do you think I was wrong to switch the boys? Please, comment. I am looking for some experienced duck owners' answers. I want them to be happy. And non-egg-laying ducks means unhappy ones, I think. I know they're pretty sensitive to change. I'm just trying to figure out the best case scenario for all of them so they're all happy. Is that even possible?? ...