Help Muscovy ducks attacking mum and young ones!

[Mabel123]

Hi
Need advice completely new to muscovy ducks only had for a few months. Everything wonderful - 5 girls and one very nice boy, and then one girl laid eggs two have hatched, survived and done really well - my dirst ever babies. Now 11 week old and as big as mum. To protect from my neighbours cats I kept mum and babies in a separate run and coup instead of free ranging with the rest but still with the others where they could see each other and interact through mesh in hope they'd be more acceptable when trying to integrate them again. I've tried a couple of times but the young ones and mum just get attacked and end up hiding back in their own run. I'm worried someone will get hurt. Nobody has but it's not pleasant. Any advice on how to integrate them and when is very much appreciated!

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hi
Need advice completely new to muscovy ducks only had for a few months. Everything wonderful - 5 girls and one very nice boy, and then one girl laid eggs two have hatched, survived and done really well - my dirst ever babies. Now 11 week old and as big as mum. To protect from my neighbours cats I kept mum and babies in a separate run and coup instead of free ranging with the rest but still with the others where they could see each other and interact through mesh in hope they'd be more acceptable when trying to integrate them again. I've tried a couple of times but the young ones and mum just get attacked and end up hiding back in their own run. I'm worried someone will get hurt. Nobody has but it's not pleasant. Any advice on how to integrate them and when is very much appreciated!

i’m sorry to hear that it’s sad. i don’t have muscovies i have regular ducks and geese and chickens i think perhaps it will take more time of seeing each others through a fence. in the meanwhile let me tag someone who does have muscovies @Miss Lydia

 

[Quatie]

Muscovies will fight and establish a pecking order one way or another. It can look very dramatic and aggressive looking, but I have rarely seen anyone ever get hurt. The young ones are especially going to want to push the boundaries of the adults and will naturally get told off. Unless you see someone getting hurt, I would let them work things out as long as they have plenty of room and multiple food and water sources. I wouldn't keep them in the same coop till they have worked out most of the issues.

My muscovy ducklings were pretty gently corrected till they reached a certain age. Then the flock fully enforced the flock rules. They chase them, pull on feathers and pin them. But they never actually hurt them.

 

[Mabel123]

i’m sorry to hear that it’s sad. i don’t have muscovies i have regular ducks and geese and chickens i think perhaps it will take more time of seeing each others through a fence. in the meanwhile let me tag someone who does have muscovies @Miss Lydia

Thank you that would be great

 

[Mabel123]

Muscovies will fight and establish a pecking order one way or another. It can look very dramatic and aggressive looking, but I have rarely seen anyone ever get hurt. The young ones are especially going to want to push the boundaries of the adults and will naturally get told off. Unless you see someone getting hurt, I would let them work things out as long as they have plenty of room and multiple food and water sources. I wouldn't keep them in the same coop till they have worked out most of the issues.

My muscovy ducklings were pretty gently corrected till they reached a certain age. Then the flock fully enforced the flock rules. They chase them, pull on feathers and pin them. But they never actually hurt them.

Thank you for your advice, I'll give them a bit more time and try again. I must be intervening too soon, as I just rush in to stop them. I hate them fighting. Nobody has got hurt may be I'm panicking too much. I will keep calm and try again! Thank you!!

 

[Quatie]

Thank you for your advice, I'll give them a bit more time and try again. I must be intervening too soon, as I just rush in to stop them. I hate them fighting. Nobody has got hurt may be I'm panicking too much. I will keep calm and try again! Thank you!!

It can be hard to watch sometimes. The ones I would worry about the most would be the drakes. They have the potential to do some serious damage. They usually go after other drakes. If you see an aggressive drake, I would consider separating him out.

 

[Mabel123]

Thanks to all your help, they are all really settled together and living harmoniously free ranging and nesting at night. It's wonderful. Thank you for all the advice!

Next question if that's OK is, the little ones it appears are both males. I've 4 females and a 5 year old drake - all muscovys. Shall I keep together and separate if I notice there's trouble or separate at a certain age or before spring? My older male (their dad) will share food with them and is very tolerable of them.
Many thanks!

 

[Quatie]

Drakes are always a mixed bag. My muscovy drakes get along pretty well each, but even they fight during the breeding season. I separate mine at night, but other people will completely separate their drakes during the breeding season. With so few females, I wouldn't be surprised if you start to have issues when the boys come of age. About 4-5 females is what you want per drake. So you will likely need to separate them, because of the low female count. I would prepare to have to completely separate your drakes and see how things play out.