Feather Pecking

[ACDKMT]

I have 3 ducks, 2 male and 1 female. 1 pekin male and 2 muscovies. The muscovies are together 24/7 especially since the female always chooses to go to my muscovy drake. Lately Lt. (the female muscovy) has been pulling Sgt. (male muscovy) tail feathers and he starts to bleed, given. He doesn't ever fight back just walks away after she pulls his blood feather. My pekin Gen. pecks at Sgt. too, but he doesn't try pulling blood feathers and I'm pretty sure he only does it for male dominance. How do i get Lt. to stop pulling feathers? I've been suggested beak-trimming, pine tar, and vick's vapor rub. Any other suggestions. Also anyone think the males will ever get along again? (they use to be best buddies)
P.S. I have put a barrier between the scovies but they put themselves in harms way just to try to be with each other again so that's not an option.



Here's all 3.



The best buddies.



And the love birds! =) (months ago)

 

[blondiebee181]

Well usually what I hear about feather pecking is related to some nutritional deficiency, usually a lack of protein...not sure if that's the case but what do you feed your ducks?
Also, how old are your ducks? If they are just coming of age it could be that your males are trying to show their dominance....unfortunately the ladies can come between even the best of buds

Watch your males closely for signs of over aggression especially towards the female. I have heard many sad stories about males fighting too fiercely over a female and even injuring her in their attempts to mate. Pekin drakes can get big too I know. You say your male and female Muscovies stick together so you may want to get another lady for your Pekin....ducks tend to be less aggressive when the competition is not as great. That's why I have only female chickens and ducks, lol...good luck

 

[ACDKMT]

I feed them non-medicated lay kracket 16% protein. Lt. gets oyster shells on the side too. And they all get meal worms. The scovies are 9 months old and the pekin is 8 months old. And yes, I'm about to move houses and at the new house I'm building a huge caged in area for them, so once that's done I'm getting 2 female ducks for my General. At first I was told he was a girl when I got him, but he turned out to be a boy and i grew attached to him so I wasn't going to get rid of him that's why I have 2 boys.

 

[jdywntr]

You have a bad ratio of males/females. If anything, this behavior will probably escalate as they will start fighting for breeding rights with the female. The female will also start to be overbred which can injure or eventually kill her. You cannot keep more males than females. It just doesn't work.

I'd rehome one of the drakes.

Beak trimming is something done in chickens to prevent pecking. I've never heard of it done to ducks and, because of the way they eat, I don't think it should be.

 

[ACDKMT]

Ok let me say the problem again, my FEMALE is pulling blood feathers off my MALE which she will only be with him, theyre together 24/7. My other male is NEVER with them hes either with me or swimming in his personal pool. Ill put them together when I get more females. I just need help with the female pulling feathers.

 

[blondiebee181]

Yeah I do think its puzzling that your female is pulling the drakes feathers.... I would private message Amiga or Miss Lydia... They always help me out with my duck problems and are very knowledgeable