Ducks fighting

[Laura szarkowicz]

We have 4 ducks. I’m not sure how many are males/females. We got them March 2017 and they have been together since, never separated. They live in our pond. Due to the horrible below freezing weather, the pond has frozen and we brought them into the garage and put them in a pin. We only did this bc our backyard has multiple animals like coyotes, deer and raccoons. Once the pond freezes it gives the coyotes and raccoons a chance to get on the ice and attack the ducks. We have had them in the pin for almost a month. They won’t eat their normal corn and hardly want to pick at anything we give them. They still drink plenty of water. Within the last few weeks,they have all started to fight. Pulling each other’s feathers out, biting the others beaks. The way they fight looks absolutely horrible. Normally they won’t let you touch them, but when they fight, it’s hard to pull them away or make them stop. Currently, one duck has been their victim. The eyes are pussy and there are several feathers missing from the back of his/her neck. I hate seeing this. We are going to try to separate this one from the group and see if he/she can recover. We don’t have a lot of room to separate them all. And due to the extreme cold weather and the frozen pond we can’t really put them back outside right now. (It was horrible trying to get them off the ice and get them in the garage, they were little stinkers). Anyone have any suggestions? Or know what they are doing and why? I heardthat when ducks mate or have sex it is pretty aggressive.. but I can’t find a lot of information on why they are acting like this. They used to protect each other and I’ve never seen them do this before. Help please.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...First figure out what sex they are..Post a picture. Do you not have proper house in general in the form of a pen and house?
Ducks need proper feed to keep them balanced in nutrition. Corn is not good.

 

[Laura szarkowicz]

We have them in a trailer. It has fencing around the sides. And they have plenty of water. There is hay/straw on the bottom and when it gets extremely cold like I’m the negatives they do have a heat lamp from a distance. Corn has just been in their big bowl and hey hardly eat it.. they used to gobble it down in the summer/fall. We have tried spinach, worms and peas. It’s just like they aren’t interested in food. They’ll nibble and then walk away. They have on occasion gobbled down a scrabbeled egg. None of them look like they have lost any weight and they are all still strong. Everything was fine and they were all getting along until almost a few weeks ago when all the fighting started. I honestly do not know what sex the ducks are. I will post a picture when I can.

 

[Laura szarkowicz]

 

[Laura szarkowicz]

Is it the best pin? No. But it beats being chased and hunted by coyotes and raccoons.

 

[chickens really]

I see three Drakes...Would need to see the other ones back to know what it is?

 

[chickens really]

Is it the best pin? No. But it beats being chased and hunted by coyotes and raccoons.

Too small for 4 Pekin...More room needed and they are 3 Drakes with possibly another? Or A Hen they will rape...

 

[Laura szarkowicz]

 

[chickens really]

You have 4 Drakes...They need way more room to actually get along..Some Drakes just don't do well with other Drakes. They are very sexual and hormones are high in Ducks.

 

[Laura szarkowicz]

Just curious but how can you tell if they are drakes? I read something about their Curly tails are more likely to be males but one of them has a more straight tail and not so curly like the others.
I do get they need more room, but for right now that’s the best we can do. We did finally get the one they have been attacking separated. I hoping he can relax and recoop. Hey have been so friendly with each other and have protected each other up until now.
Any other suggestions? We really can’t release them for a little bit longer. It’s still freezing here. We go from 40* one day to negative 10 the next with snow.
As for food, what can we feed them? We’ve really tried small amounts of everything and they don’t really seem interested. But I’m telling you I’m the summer we can’t keep enough food around for them.