Duckling Bully?

[viennaproto]

Hi everyone! I gave two of my call ducklings away to a friend as I promised her when I ordered them. I told her to call me if she had any problems since this is her first time owning ducklings (she takes care of my ducklings/ducks every time I am out of town though and I trust her). She called me a couple minutes ago and explained that the white call is picking on the pencilled one. She said the white call keeps pecking at the pencilled's eye and she is worried the pencilled will get hurt or possibly killed. She also asked if she should separate them tonight but I advised her that may stress the little ones out a lot. Is this normal behavior for calls? I know ducklings something preen each other and sometimes pick on each other but it is hard to imagine what is happening over the phone and I can't go over there since corona. Any Ideas? Thanks guys!

 

[Miss Lydia]

She can put a see through divider in the brooder and separate them that way and then have supervised get together during the day until the little call stops picking on its sibling. I used a piece of hardware cloth and wrapped the edges in gorilla tape.

 

[viennaproto]

She can put a see through divider in the brooder and separate them that way and them have supervised get together during the day until the little call stops picking on its sibling. I used a piece of hardware cloth and wrapped the edges in gorilla tape.

Won’t they get lonely?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If they can lay side by side it won’t be too bad and that way the one getting picked on won’t get hurt.

 

[Beaglegal]

She can put a see through divider in the brooder and separate them that way and then have supervised get together during the day until the little call stops picking on its sibling. I used a piece of hardware cloth and wrapped the edges in gorilla tape.

Agree, I’ve used this with chicks. I used hardware cloth, too. They can still huddle together but not pick at each other. Then I remove it every couple of days to see if they can play nice. Usually it’s just a phase

 

[viennaproto]

Agree, I’ve used this with chicks. I used hardware cloth, too. They can still huddle together but not pick at each other. Then I remove it every couple of days to see if they can play nice. Usually it’s just a phase

Won’t they get lonely?

Okay, Thank you so much @Miss Lydia and @Beaglegal !!! I will relay your advice to her! I very much appreciate it. Do you think she should keep them together tonight to see how they do and then decide whether or not to use a divider tomorrow?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well that depends on how bad this little Call is picking on the other one. Sounded to me like she was worried the little one was going to get hurt?

 

[viennaproto]

Well that depends on how bad this little Call is picking on the other one. Sounded to me like she was worried the little one was going to get hurt?

Yes, that is what she said. She is also a first time duck mamma so I understand she might be helicopter parenting and overly concerned. She said the duckling was pecking at the other ducklings eye every so often. I also read on another thread that showing your dominance by holding them down gently when they do this may help and she said by doing this it has gotten a little better! Do you think they will be okay in the brooder together tonight?

 

[Beaglegal]

Yes, that is what she said. She is also a first time duck mamma so I understand she might be helicopter parenting and overly concerned. She said the duckling was pecking at the other ducklings eye every so often. I also read on another thread that showing your dominance by holding them down gently when they do this may help and she said by doing this it has gotten a little better! Do you think they will be okay in the brooder together tonight?

Yes, depends, if she’s worried do it now, they can still snuggle together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

All she can do is try keeping them together and see how it goes.