Female Welsh Harliquin Becoming Aggressive

[Beautifulmess]

So our normally sweet 2 year old Welsh Harlequin (Willow) has changed so much this spring. First her molting seemed to take a couple of months and now her head is much darker than it was before. (Not as dark as a Male, but very saturated with deep browns/blacks). She has also become aggressive/territorial towards our dog and cat. Willow and my cat have always been the best of friends. Following each other around and taking naps together. Now she wont stop full on attacking him. I'm afraid our cat is finally going to lose it on her and accidentally hurt her. To top it off, she no longer will bow to my husband or I, which has always been her way to say hello, and let us know she wants to be pet. We did get a goose this year to help protect her from the hawks (she got attacked last year and I happened to catch it before she was seriously injured) Her and the goose seem to get along fine but they are both human imprinted so it's more like casual buddies. Sorry for the long post, but I'm just lost here. I have attached pics from before her molt and today.

 

[PirateGirl]

Maybe she is thinking about going broody

 

[chickens really]

I'm thinking Drake...

 

[Timothy Menezes]

Ducks get very sexual in the spring / early summer especially, so she is probably feeling pretty hormonal. Maybe having a mate would help?

If you want to go that route, you could check your local SPCA, animal rescue, Craigslist, ECT for a male. My local shelter gets unwanted extra male ducks and roosters all the time. When I lost my rooster to a predator, I adopted a gorgeous one for $5.

 

[chickens really]

Oh she is a lone Duck without other Ducks?..That explains everything now..Definitely needs other Ducks.

 

[Beautifulmess]

Shes been our only poultry for the 2 years we have had her. She has been perfectly content with being a family duck up until now. The goose we got for her is also a female and also an indoor/outdoor pet. Since they have both imprinted on humans, neither of them think of themselves as birds, only as other people so i dont think an additional duck would help. Also, to get a Male would mean I would need to get at least 2 more females to keep her from being injured

 

[Duckworth]

My Welsh females got darker after the molt going into their third year, too. I’m thinking hormones, too, on the aggression issue.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does she lay eggs that will settle the sex issue.

 

[Beautifulmess]

I'm thinking Drake...

Shes been 100% female since we got her. We got about 2 years worth of eggs from her. My wonder is that maybe she is going drake.
I read that its possible for ducks to change genders... which was mind blowing for me

 

[Beautifulmess]

Maybe she is thinking about going broody

The issues is we've had her for 2 years and shes never been like this, even when she would have a few eggs saved up. It's not just her personality and temperment, but her color has changed as well as she has stopped laying eggs since she began this springs molt