Duckling picking on others!

[ElPatoPalace]

We acquired 6 baby ducks and have been keeping them on our bathtub with 3 water dishes, a grit dish and a feeder. There is only 6 baby ducks in a large bathtub. They have food and water constantly and get nutritional yeast supplement as well daily. They are now approx 4 weeks old. I had noticed the past week that one of the khaki Campbell's was pecking at the other ducks, mainly when swimming and during bath time. However the last 24 hours has gotten much worse and we woke to both our blond runners with raw bald spots on their tails from the pecking KC. We have since separated the pecking duckling from the rest and are wondering if there is any way to solve the issue or if we will need to get rid of the pecking duck?

 

[pattyhen]

I'm glad you seperated the mean duckling. I would keep him seperated for 3 or 4 days and put him back with the others. Hopefully he'll be at the bottom of the pecking order then. If he goes at them again I would seperate them again and give him one more chance. Good luck with this.

Patty

 

[Miss Lydia]

@ElPatoPalace Where are you keeping the ducklings now at 4 weeks old they may have out grown the tub and crowding can also cause pecking and boredom can also bring it on. You might try once you put the duckling back with the rest hanging some romaine lettuce in the brooder for them to peck at and if you have fresh grass still cut out a chunk with soil still attached they will love rooting around in it .

 

[Amiga]

I am with Miss Lydia, I think that at that age, they need some more room. Don't panic, but do start considering how to get them some more space. Crowding is said by Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks to be a reason for "feather eating" and other antisocial behavior.

I had to expand the brooder space twice - I used a couple of puppy playpens.