Female v Female Agression Ducks

[MrsWayne]

A Pekin hen started attacking a Buff hen just in the last day or so.

I let my ducks out to the run this morning and almost immediately my hen Henriette attacked the Buff (no name yet). It was that neck wrap behavior with biting the nape. She didn't seem to be trying to mount. I watched for a while because it was so unusual. They have been together for weeks now and this has not happened, that I know of.

Henriette kept it up, chasing the Buff into the pool. The Drake was in there and tried to keep Henriette out. I put a stop to it shortly after. The Buff ran to the corner of the run and stood there.

I noticed the back of the Buff's neck has been picked pretty clean of feathers, but I don't see any raw skin yet. I turned the Pekins out to free range to give the Buff some rest and to figure out what to do.

I did a search on duck agression and fighting behavior but after four pages I have not seen it addressed. It may be under a different search term.

I don't have enough experience to know if this is pecking order behavior or something worse.

Now I'm late for work and the cat just barfed at my feet! Luckily she missed.

 

[aart]

Maybe separate the bully?
That can work with chickens sometimes.

 

[MrsWayne]

Hormones most likely. They really mess them up. I have had to put my Muscovy females in solitary confinement for going after their sisters. Usually here a few nights alone settles them down till the next time.

I can appreciate "hormones".

A few nights away I can manage. I've had other suggestions to "get ride of the bully" but that goes against *my* nature. I don't know enough about their reproductive behaviors to know if they go broody this time of year (August) or just any time or just spring time ... So.

Love all the help from everyone. Again, this is a great forum!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I would give the bully a time out.
Most likely it's just hormones, but check your buff duck over for any injuries or signs that she is not feeling well. Sometimes if one is sick or injured the others will pick on the "weak link" it can be brutal.

 

[PirateGirl]

I’m sorry I don’t have a great answer other than we can’t make them be friends. If there’s any way you can offer them time apart or time in a larger area or modify your set up to include more hiding spots it might help. The goal being to allow them their own space. Also two food dishes two water sources two pools will help because ducks will squabble over resources.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s what I was thinking separate the bully! Sometimes when the bully gets separated for a while and then put back in with the flock they lose some dominance.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well showing aggression can be one signal not wanting to leave the nest.

 

[MrsWayne]

Your positive the Pekin is a Hen?

Oh yes. I've had the Pekins over a year now and both are egg layers and quackers.

The Buff and Drake just joined us this year, spent 3 weeks in "quarantine" and now about four weeks with the Pekins as a flock.

 

[MrsWayne]

I just got home and went to let the Pekins back in the run. Immediately Henriette dropped her head and started chasing the Buff and tearing at her feathers, wherever she could grab a mouthful. Again, I had to separate them and left the Pekins out to free range.

Not sure how to handle this now. I guess I could get the dog kennel out and put the Buff there for the night. I'll have to mull this over.

 

[MrsWayne]

I’m sorry I don’t have a great answer other than we can’t make them be friends. If there’s any way you can offer them time apart or time in a larger area or modify your set up to include more hiding spots it might help. The goal being to allow them their own space. Also two food dishes two water sources two pools will help because ducks will squabble over resources.

There are two food dishes and two pools. The run is pretty big, about 8x32. Just the four ducks. Hiding places .... could use a couple I suppose.