Ducks bullying call hen

[Isaac 0]

Not great... Wednesday night, my ramshackle attempt to separate her, with my call drake and a duck fell apart immediately. Scared everyone, but they were united in their irritation with me. Last night when I was putting them in their coop, I noticed that the call duck had an injured eye, most likely from a peck from her not so friendly friends. I brought her inside, washed out her eye area and she spent the night in my bathtub. Tonight I put her in a hamper in the coop. She is away from wandering beaks but can still be with the flock. Of course the addition of the hamper meant no one would go into the coop willingly and I had to catch each one individually to put them inside. I was NOT a happy duck owner (slave) and am ashamed to say I took their night time meal worm snack back into the house with me.

Sorry, you are having problems, Integrating or changing their environment can definitely be stressful for the birds and the owner, Perhaps you could capture the drake and female with a fishing net if that would make it easier for you. You could always buy some more ducks and put them in a separate pen with the female, that way they will bond with her before the other bully ducks. I would suggest some changes soon, males can definitely be brutal with females especially during breeding.

 

[krusiducks]

Here’s where we’re at today.... things are better, as good as it can be considering it’s spring and my drakes are loving their women. My husband has built 2 pens in my coop. One for the drakes and one for a couple of the ducks and the call, the rest of the coop is open for the others. This is where they are put at night. The great thing about this (besides safety) is that I can stack my straw on top of the pens which gives me more floor space inside. My call duck is trying to get the call drake’s attention (and succeeding) and the other hens don’t seem to be as aggressive towards her as they were last week. During the day I have been separating the drakes from the girls, and checking on them when they’re together. Doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing (I have my khaki drake in “jail” right now) but I think we’re getting there. Thanks for all the advice and being my sounding boards!

 

[Isaac 0]

Glad to hear everything is going better! Thanks for the update!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good news!!