Feather Pecking - Muscovy Ducks

[GenevieveElise]

Hello, first time member and poster (of any forum ever so sorry if I'm doing this wrong), and I have a very similar problem with my 6 Muscovies. This blue eyed hussy keeps pecking and drawing blood on the pin feathers of both wings of another little lady. I've pulled the ones that were bleeding, cleaned it and separated her from everyone else for 2 days, then let her rejoin her girls. There was zero pecking all day, so I put them to bed together, but when I let them out this morning she had fresh dried blood on both wings. How long should they be separated for? Whats the best way of keeping them apart and calm? They're free range all day, forage for plants, bugs, etc. but also have crumble and access to clean fresh water. They're about 16 weeks old, I just recently got them and I'm a first time backyard anything owner. Any tips and tricks to share with this dummy?

 

[Jpat]

Mabye the space they are in at night is too small?

 

[GenevieveElise]

Its about 18 sq. feet between 6 hens. Too small?

 

[GenevieveElise]

One side of the coop has a slanted wall if that makes a difference too. It was built by our neighbor who had previously raised chickens and he said it was good, but I don't know enough to know if that's true or not, ya know?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can you post pics of your coop inside and out?and your scovys too. I haven’t ever had my scovy pull feathers out so not sure what this is all about but I know my scovy girls are sure temperamental and this time of year is one of the time they are I can only guess it’s hormonal winding down for fall and winter.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Its about 18 sq. feet between 6 hens. Too small?

Yes. They need 10 sq ft at least per duck.
They should have a minimum of 60 for a pen. Their housing can be 4 ft per duck at 24 sq ft for 6.
Muscovies need more room or they can be mischievous.

 

[GenevieveElise]

Yes. They need 10 sq ft at least per duck.
They should have a minimum of 60 for a pen. Their housing can be 4 ft per duck at 24 sq ft for 6.
Muscovies need more room or they can be mischievous.

I'll try expanding their coop from 18 to 24; during the day they range in about 3/4 of an enclosed acre.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Do you have a roosting bar in your coop? I have 2X4's in my coop and my Muscovy's will roost they have the lower roost chickens the upper.

 

[GenevieveElise]

Can you post pics of your coop inside and out?and your scovys too.

Yeah I'll try and get some uploaded asap!

 

[GenevieveElise]

Do you have a roosting bar in your coop?

I don't, but I can add some. Do they need a roost per duck?