Feather eating Duck

[Stonewall Acres]

I have noticed recently that one of my ducks has been plucking the feathers off my chickens backsides. She sneaks up behind them while they are not paying attention, grabs a mouthful & runs away. She seems to only bother the chickens & not the other ducks. Is there anyway to stop her behaviour, or is my only real option separating the two flocks? She is one of our favourite ducks, but our poor hens have bald spots.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What is the percent of protein in the feed your feeding? Usually feather eating means some needs more protein.

 

[Loopeend]

If what Miss lydia's good suggestion does not work;

It can be an silly dominance-play. It could help to seperate her for a while; to change the social structure (if all the other ducks are friendly with the chickens); and let her come back as a duck that needs to earn her place in the group again (when the other ducks have made a new hierachy without her).

 

[Raenh]

That's what I did when one of mine <sugarbaby> started being super mean to her older sister sodapop. I created her and moved her into my room while speedy and beedee were recovering from their injuries. She was in the crate and couldn't hurt anyone. After about 3 days I let her rejoin the group, and she had calmed down. Part of it was she was extra mean broody.

 

[Stonewall Acres]

What is the percent of protein in the feed your feeding? Usually feather eating means some needs more protein.

That was my first thoughts, so I have started supplementing their layer feed.

If what Miss lydia's good suggestion does not work;

It can be an silly dominance-play. It could help to seperate her for a while; to change the social structure (if all the other ducks are friendly with the chickens); and let her come back as a duck that needs to earn her place in the group again (when the other ducks have made a new hierachy without her).

That might be the issue. She seems to think she is the queen of the run. I might have to give that a try.

 

[Loopeend]

That's what I did when one of mine <sugarbaby> started being super mean to her older sister sodapop. I created her and moved her into my room while speedy and beedee were recovering from their injuries. She was in the crate and couldn't hurt anyone. After about 3 days I let her rejoin the group, and she had calmed down. Part of it was she was extra mean broody.

It can help. The duck(female, Ancel is her name) in my avatar was trying to kill every newcomer. It was really not an misimpreted or accidentally sexual thing; she really tried to drown everyone. Intentionally.
We removed her for 3 weeks. The other ducks formed a new social hierachy; where the female greyskull was the boss.
She was allowed back; and it was really sad to see. They all ingored her and she had to be nice for months to earn a place. They all just walked away when they saw her. Ducks don't forget. They might not be humans; but they don't forget a once unnice duck. And they felt like a group now; instead of victims. She found her place. All the ducks had to go instead of her and the new female boss greyskull; and they really befriended. So much it is now a struggle with new ducks that greyskull does not accept them (but she does not hurt them or is aggressive!) and this Ancel in the picture just.. is chill. She just accepts every new duck and does her own thing. She became a "I like everyone"; and has became really self-secure and friendly. And still is BFF's with greyskull. I think. I also found out she is really smart.. and plans stuff.. she knows when to be "cute" and when to escape the situation silently (she will never defend the rest of the flock; first one to silently just hide)..but hey atleast; she is not killing ducks!

 

[Loopeend]

That was my first thoughts, so I have started supplementing their layer feed.


That might be the issue. She seems to think she is the queen of the run. I might have to give that a try.

What I just told might not be the same issue; But Indian runners do have a social hierachy structure. Just like us humans do. Being away for a time can result in a new "king or queen" that won't give that place up easily; and for you as a human; it can result in a better "king or queen" that does not think it is neccesairy to assault chickens. They all have their own characters; some can be leaders without doing that. And you have the power to shift that.