Chicken Bullying Duck?

[Lorielus]

Hi all,

Your neigbourhood noob looking for yet more advice.

I've three chickens (two cream legbar, one sussex) and two khaki campbell ducks, nearly one year old. Until the last couple of week everything has been harmonious, they've about 2/3 of an acre to buck/quack about it so there's no real lack of space for the five of them.

Generally the five of them move around the garden together (except when the ducks are in the pond), but the two ducks are never more than five feet apart at any time. However, recently I'd noticed Queequeg (one of the ducks) sitting on her own, and I think it's because of the behavior of Ripley (the Sussex). While not overly violent, I've seen her chase Queequeg a few times as if running her off and she's pecked her at least once (no blood or anything).

My questions are:

1. Is this normal behaviour?
2. Why is manifesting now?
3. Is there anything I can do to change it?

In case its important for context, the ducks and chickens have separate coops (albeit in th same area of the garden about ten feet apart). They always have an ample food and water supply available (i.e it's never allowed to empty, and there are multiple troughs so no competition for food/water.

Any advice as always would be much appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you ducks female? Most poultry is hormonal this time of year as hormones surge under increasing light.

 

[Lorielus]

Yes, all the chickens and ducks are female.

Is there anything I can/should do to change the behaviour?

 

[chickens really]

Yes, all the chickens and ducks are female.

Is there anything I can/should do to change the behaviour?

Separate the two species..Make a Duck pen and House. My Ducks hate my Chickens so they are separated at all times..

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes, all the chickens and ducks are female.

Is there anything I can/should do to change the behaviour?

You can't change anything unless you do confine them. As long as you are seeing no blood or pecking wounds I would let them work it out.

Is it possible the one duck is going broody? I'm unsure if Cayuga is a breed that does.

 

[Lorielus]

Thanks - I found some advice about isolating the bully for a while if need be - I'll give it to the weekend and if they haven't worked it out by then I'll try putting the offending chicken in the run for a couple of days while the rest free range as usual.