Help! Ducks have lost their minds!

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

My 3 ducks, Daphne (Rouen) and her two Muscovy sisters, have turned murderous! I just got in from work and was cleaning their pen, when all 3 got into a giant fight! At first, my pied Muscovy pinned Daphne down and was biting her, but then everyone starting trying to kill each other! They normally get along so well! No one is broody, or even laying, so that’s not a factor. The two Muscovies are molting, but haven’t been grumpy until tonight. I’ve put my pied Muscovy in a dog crate in time out, but left Daphne and my white Muscovy out together as they are usually best buds. However, even those two are squabbling. I don’t really have a way to separate all 3, and I’d rather they not have to spend the winter nights alone. What’s wrong with my ducks?! Are they just bored out of their minds as it has been snowy and they’ve not been out of the barn in a while (their choice)? Have they lost it completely?! When we first got the Muscovies as ducklings, we named them “The Goons” as they initially were quite ferocious tiny beasts. However, they matured into lovely little hens, so I’ve mostly stopped calling them that. However, they re-earned their names tonight

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Muscovy have been grumpy and picking on other members. Especially the chickens. I caught one grabbing hold of one of my hens by the butt and was holding on for dear life while the chicken was runny away with the duck latched on. Those Muscovy can be stinkers even my drake has been mean to me mostly. I have never seen my Runners and Buffs act like this.

 

[FortCluck]

My muscovy so far is good, she didn't even attack the chicks that ran into their area. Mine is young though.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Well, they are all tucked in for the night, not separated anymore as they were falling asleep and seem to have simmered. Hopefully, all will be ok tomorrow. There were some hunters shooting illegally close to the property after sunset (a neighbor called fish and game when she caught them essentially in her yard), and I wonder if the stress of hearing the guns could have triggered their behavior. I really hope that this was a isolated incident. I wish that I wasn’t working such long hours so that I could spend more time with them, and that the ducks would voluntarily spend some time outside of the barn. That being said, it’s a big barn that they can roam around at will. It’s not as though they are stuck in a tiny coop with no room to breathe! I don’t know. I’m guessing that they all have bruised and sore wings and necks tonight (from biting each other).

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Wasn't that Daphne who reported a »frog theft« a while ago, with one of the goons as the main suspect?
It seems today was a »crazy duck« day, my Duckies behaved strange the whole day and in the evening they pranked me: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/another-one-of-these-days….1340316/
Maybe there is a major change in the weather coming?

 

[FathertoFeathers]

My muscovy hens have been being punks lately too. Yesterday I went outside and one female was pulling the others tail feathers out by the mouthful!

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Well, everyone is still alive! Goon 2 (black/white pied ‘Scovy hen) appears to be the main problem. While she’s always been independent, aggression is new for her (not counting Temporary Broody Insanity). She’s my tiniest hen, and she was leaping on the other two, shoving their beaks into the dirt and ripping out feathers! Daphne and my white Muscovy, who we shall call Daisy (might as well make that her official name), definitely became aggressive also, but it seemed to be a reaction to their crazy sister’s behavior.

There are still flare-ups, but all 3 are together now. Daphne and Daisy are back to being two peas in a pod. They cuddle together every night, while their sister sleeps alone nearby in a dog crate.

Hopefully, things will improve soon. I do think that molting is playing a role. Goon 2 is my only hen that can usually fly. Right now, she’s entirely grounded, unable to even make it up to the top of the stall door to roost, even with “steps”. I think she’s really frustrated. Thankfully, she’s growing new feathers in quickly.

I thought that winter would be a time of peace, free from broody behavior. Hopefully, that will soon be true.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mine are starting to calm down so hopefully soon Your scovy can be let out of jail. Although last night after everyone went in a few scovy girls were running the runners around in there but no one was touched they just like to make them run around. Breaks up the monotony I reckon!​

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I blame the change in weather! Tonight a weak front came through bringing a lot of rain and today the Duckies are busy turning ankle-deep mud into knee-deep mud. No time for making little ducklings or fights over whatever. There's enough mud for everybody!

 

[DukesDucks]

So glad to hear that other Muscovy ducks are acting weird. We had record snowfall last week and now everything is melting so I also blame the weird weather. They had been confined to their run for a few days, and when I let them out to free-range it was chaos of flying and running. Even Diane, my eldest female who is usually laid back, was chasing everyone. Saw someone staring at my vehicle while in town. Seems like they have never seen a SUV covered in muddy duck prints and duck poop.