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I have a issue with one of my muscovy ducklings .... I hatched them and have been very Hands on with them but one which I think is a male cause he's bigger then the others hisses at me he's only 3 and a half weeks old y is he doing this he also tries striking at me to bite but then again he will also just craw in my lap and cuddle idk what's going on he also does this and pick fights with his siblings as well. what do I do or does anyone know y I had hatched them my self so I'm all they know to be mom :(
 
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Sometimes its best to separate males from the others until they are big enough, its always been a hassle for me because around the juvenile age my males start nipping at each other, so thats when i have to separate, and when they get big enough i put them together and when ever they're bad, i put them in time out for a day or two, so back in their pen all alone . then i'll redo the process till they learn that 'hey if i fight i get put back, if i don't then i get to stay'
 
Rachele:
Hatching ducklings does not mean they will automatically "bond". Yes, they will imprint, but that is different. In the human world, Mom is someone who is supposed to be adored by her children, their protector and the one they confide in. Even in humans, that's often not what happens. In ducks, imprinting merely means they follow you and look to you for protection and food. They don't bond. Sometimes you get one that is more liking of petting and interaction and sometimes you don't. In the wild, the one that was not affectionate survives the best. We have tried to breed that stand-offishness away in order to try and get ducks that are more like people. Bottom line, though, they are ducks. They may imprint, but there's no guarantee they will bond.

The pekins I had last year were so sweet. They would let me near them, come when I fed them, herded easily. This year, the new batch ran from me, would not let me catch them and refused to be herded without a fight. Both groups were 1 to 5 days old when I got them. The Roeuns I had in the past were a day old when I got them and they followed me everywhere. This year, I got adult muscovies, who, while they are opposed to being picked up, will herd easily and often come out of the pen and follow me around. They will come out when they hear my voice. Nothing is certain with ducks.
 
Quote: I've never had to separate males from females at such a young age. I keep my hands away from his faces and actually try not to pick them up much once I know they are drakes. How large of a brooder do you have them in? they my need more room because sometimes when crowded and bored you'll also see this behavior.
 
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Yeah it sucks for me because i got them a big pen! and they still fight!, its 10 feet by 12 feet and they still pluck each others feathers, i feel really bad because on sunday when it wasn't cold i sprayed them with the house :( and i felt really bad because they were all wet and like after that i hugged all of them and wiped them off with a towel and then gave them some cat food, ( i think i spoil them) but like it was bad they were pulling each others down out and were bleeding, i had to put one boy back into the brooder because he wouldn't stop picking out his brother's and sisters' feathers! no matter how much i sprayed him, and he's been in time out for three days, but I've stilled spoiled him! he jumps in my arms every time i go out to see him and he does his baby peep every time i leave. And i have to put him back out today but if he picks i have to put him back, and at this age he's huge like average male duck huge ( i have a big brooder) so you can imagine the mess i have to clean! The best way to get babies to bond with you is just sit down with them while they eat, get them to eat out of your hand every now and then, love on them, kiss them on they're little fuzzy heads!! ( gosh i miss the baby days!) let them sleep on you lap while you pet them, take them swimming in the bath tub, of course sit down by the bath tub, not in it! ( even though I've gotten in the tub with them, and they wouldn't even swim they just climbed up to my shoulder and went to sleep) take them outside with you get them used to following you! I( thats my favorite thing to do, getting them to follow you) and at night give them a treat every now and then.
 
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Quote: I don't see fighting till mine are sexually mature usually first year. hatch one year mating next year then it starts. Mine are free range over half acre which isn't near large enough for 3 young drakes so the oldest at 3 yrs has to be separated for the other 2 during mating season, next year I'll have my next 2 at 2yrs and 3 yrs having to live in the same area because I have no way of separating them. no telling what this is going to be like, then I have a going on 11 yrs old in the front yard with his 3 girls.
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I even tried to find a good home for 2 of my drakes no one is interested. unless for the table.
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Awww we had a feeling it was a she ......humm now we need a name .....
Do you think we should get her a friend ....(another Muscovy ) ...
I wounder where she came from ....
You could try finding her a friend but keep in mind if you decide on a drake he'll need at least 2-3 ducks to keep him from over mating one girl and to keep him un interested in your hens[chickens]
 
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Yeah it sucks for me because i got them a big pen! and they still fight!, its 10 feet by 12 feet and they still pluck each others feathers, i feel really bad because on sunday when it wasn't cold i sprayed them with the house :( and i felt really bad because they were all wet and like after that i hugged all of them and wiped them off with a towel and then gave them some cat food, ( i think i spoil them) but like it was bad they were pulling each others down out and were bleeding, i had to put one boy back into the brooder because he wouldn't stop picking out his brother's and sisters' feathers! no matter how much i sprayed him, and he's been in time out for three days, but I've stilled spoiled him! he jumps in my arms every time i go out to see him and he does his baby peep every time i leave. And i have to put him back out today but if he picks i have to put him back, and at this age he's huge like average male duck huge ( i have a big brooder) so you can imagine the mess i have to clean! The best way to get babies to bond with you is just sit down with them while they eat, get them to eat out of your hand every now and then, love on them, kiss them on they're little fuzzy heads!! ( gosh i miss the baby days!) let them sleep on you lap while you pet them, take them swimming in the bath tub, of course sit down by the bath tub, not in it! ( even though I've gotten in the tub with them, and they wouldn't even swim they just climbed up to my shoulder and went to sleep) take them outside with you get them used to following you! I( thats my favorite thing to do, getting them to follow you) and at night give them a treat every now and then.
I do all of that but I guess he wants to love me but not get touched back
 

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