how do you introduce a duckling to a 4 week old duck?

[Debs Flock]

It's complicated...Wobbles is still in hormonal overhaul, so he attacks anything that moves, and Bean FLIPS OUT at the slightest provocation, so she'll run around like a chicken with her head cut off, and Wobbles gets freaked and assumes she's a threat. So now she's scared of him, too! If they're both calm or eating nearby they're fine, but inevitably something will happen like a cat walking in or an airplane going overhead that'll set Bean off and the whole messy process starts over again...

How old are they? Wish I had some wisdom to share that might help.

 

[Amykins]

How old are they? Wish I had some wisdom to share that might help.

Wobbles is 2, Bean is 2 months.

 

[Julie Birb]

Myself and every other cat owner on earth would like to respectfully disagree with that statement.

Heehee. I didn't know that. What has caused your kitty to hold a grudge?

 

[Julie Birb]

hahaha you have some good ones, my mom once had a cat that I accidentally stepped on her tail one time just once and she hated me ever since

Oh geez. I never knew that about cats. Very interesting.

 

[Julie Birb]

Wish I could say the same! I dunno if my ducks do either but they sure seem adept at developing phobias. I'm at a loss. Wobbles is a strong-willed macho man, and Bean is such a flighty spaz, I don't know how I'm ever going to get them to get along!

oh no. What to do!! Were you and Hils gonna build them a sort of enclosure so they could be together and you could leave the house thus enabling Wobbles to have some company?

I can only hope in the short term future that Bean outgrows her phobias. Poor little thing. I feel bad for her being stressed out.

 

[Amykins]

oh no. What to do!! Were you and Hils gonna build them a sort of enclosure so they could be together and you could leave the house thus enabling Wobbles to have some company?

I can only hope in the short term future that Bean outgrows her phobias. Poor little thing. I feel bad for her being stressed out.

That was the idea, yeah. But I'm not sure what's gonna happen. We'll just have to see if Wobs' behavior calms down after mating season passes, but it may not. As for Bean, no clue what to do. Just lotsa treats and kid gloves, I guess. She's okay with hands as long as you move real slow.

 

[Julie Birb]

That was the idea, yeah. But I'm not sure what's gonna happen. We'll just have to see if Wobs' behavior calms down after mating season passes, but it may not. As for Bean, no clue what to do. Just lotsa treats and kid gloves, I guess.  She's okay with hands as long as you move real slow.

I hope it does calm down if it does. Will it calm down around the emergence of fall/winter? Or perhaps when she is fully feathered could he perhaps take to her better? And then there's the issue of her attraction towards him. My birds have a different relationship as a male/female pair compared to other couples I've had in the past. I guess it's the chemistry thing between 2 people that also happens in the bird world.

 

[Amykins]

I hope it does calm down if it does. Will it calm down around the emergence of fall/winter? Or perhaps when she is fully feathered could he perhaps take to her better? And then there's the issue of her attraction towards him. My birds have a different relationship as a male/female pair compared to other couples I've had in the past. I guess it's the chemistry thing between 2 people that also happens in the bird world.

We'll just have to see, it could go 50/50. It may not get better until HER first season a whole year from now. Which will be difficult, but at this point I dunno. If anyone has ANY advice for me I'll take it, I've been using treats to try and alleviate some of the fear but Wobbles won't stop attacking her, and Bean won't stop freaking out!

 

[Julie Birb]

We'll just have to see, it could go 50/50. It may not get better until HER first season a whole year from now. Which will be difficult, but at this point I dunno. If anyone has ANY advice for me I'll take it, I've been using treats to try and alleviate some of the fear but Wobbles won't stop attacking her, and Bean won't stop freaking out!

That is a dilemma. And I guess you have to just wait and see. Whatever it is that triggers his antagonism towards her will forever be a mystery. I just feel sorry for her and hope things settle down in the near future. I know it isn't easy for you either.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We'll just have to see, it could go 50/50. It may not get better until HER first season a whole year from now. Which will be difficult, but at this point I dunno. If anyone has ANY advice for me I'll take it, I've been using treats to try and alleviate some of the fear but Wobbles won't stop attacking her, and Bean won't stop freaking out!

With Wobbles hormone level [any drakes] this times of year you probably will just have to keep them separated till fall where they can still see each other but no contact, Hopefully once the hormones start waning he'll behave like a gentleman. [well at least not attack Bean. ]