Muscovy hens fighting

[jdywntr]

I have had muscovy for a while but I have never had more than 1 muscovy hen at a time. My 5 muscovy, 4 hens and a drake were raised and hatched together. Recently, I have noticed the black barred female being bullied by the brown barred females ( I have 1 black and 3 brown barred) and she has been off on her own. She isn't nesting or anything like that but she is just laying off on her own.

The other day, one of the browns was REALLY fighting with her. Facing off with her and fighting like I would expect to see from males then, chasing her around like I would see drakes doing to hens. I know they have a pecking order too but they are around 5-6 months now and have been together since day one. I have had other breeds, runners and rouens, and the hens all got along.

Should I be concerned about this behavior? I kind of feel bad for her. She is not always off on her own but several times throughout the day she will be 10-20 feet away from the other 4.

FYI the drake has just in the last few weeks started breeding with them though he is not that adept. (for instance, when I stand there saying "turn around buddy that's the wrong end" since he is facing in the opposite direction of the hen but stomping around on her none the less

) They are not laying yet. She is not injured in any way.

Thanks

 

[Going Quackers]

It happens, my most aggressive duck is Lilly she still goes after all the other ducks if they dare come near her babies and yet they are 9wks old by wed/thursday.. and fwiw she came in with two them as 6-7mth olds so it's not like she doesn't know them lol

I have had to split up a duck fight before, it's not as intense as a drake one though oye. I can't really offer much in way of suggestions, it eventually calms down here... After the babies go were keeping two i assume Lilly will chill but who knows, she is definitely the dominate duck of the flock... it'll be interesting to see how this play out with her duckling that we are keeping.

If it starts to get super nasty, you may have no choice but to separate. Is the drake favoring her? you know i'm wondering if a jealously thing is happening? i own many drakes so that hasn't been an issue here.

sorry not all that helpful, hopefully others can offer up more but i figured i'd at least try

 

[jdywntr]

Thanks GQ. No the drake is usually hanging with the brown hens. I haven't noticed it often I was just very surprised when the one duck was going after her that way.

Any other opinions?

 

[Going Quackers]

Thanks GQ. No the drake is usually hanging with the brown hens. I haven't noticed it often I was just very surprised when the one duck was going after her that way.

Any other opinions?

Odd but who knows what goes through their little heads! I know for awhile Lilac was becoming a bit of a loner.. the girls were picking on her and the boys she didn't want anything to do with, it's all settled down though.

Of coarse as you know my flock has been dealing with dramatic change so perhaps they have decided to cut the nonsense... think i could be that lucky?

 

[Miss Lydia]

The only time my girls have a go at each other is when one is broody she will try to kick everyones butt. chase pull feathers out, just being really mean, now I have 4 of them acting that way and I am trying to break them, also in the early spring they will get into it some. Their bodies are changing, hormones are getting started so they are wanting to see who becomes top duck so to speak. Hopefully they will get it all sorted out soon.

I always feel sorry for the under duck