My babies are becoming Buttheads!!! Help?

[bishybishbish]

I have two Buff Orpington ducks. Both are males and 4 months old. They have been raised by us since hatching. They've also been spoiled: held, cuddled, napped with us, bath tub time, human time. As they got older we slowly transitioned to moving them outside so they had more room and lots of bugs to eat. They have full run if the backyard, two kiddie pools to play in and keep cool, lots of house vegetables, and still get human time several times a day. They've been quite happy.

However, a few weeks ago (coincidentally when the temperature got up over 104) they started getting ornery. The most loviest of the two started biting and literally charging toes. Anyway, everything I'm reading is that they may be sexually frustrated. I am not in a position to take in two females, so they will most likely remain lonely old men ducks. Is this bad for them? Do they need a female? How long will this last? Is it just the "season" and it will pass until next year?

I didn't think to look up any situation like this during my year of research prior to getting them. I love my babies but I'm worried that they're not happy.

Any advice or suggestions to possibly stop this nonsense??

 

[seashoreduck]

It's 104 out. It's enough to make anyone crabby, including ducks. Make sure they have COOL water*, and let them alone till they calm down.

Make sure they have plenty of food, too.

My males have all gone through a toe-biting phaze, usually triggered by hunger. It starts at about 6-7 weeks and lasts till about 15....yours are a little bit old for it. Just make a loud noise that will spook them. Ducks tend to also push limits starting at about 8 weeks...becuase ducks.

There could be some male aggression issues, but since they are targeting you and not other ducks I think you may be dealing with some general crankyness issues, not some breeding ones.

*baby pools can get ridiculously hot in the sun. keep it in the shade and change it atleast a couple of times...or add ice.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

104 degrees is dangerously hot. Keep them cool.

Ducks like nibbling toes. It's just something they do. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact your ducks are males or have no females.

 

[bishybishbish]

It's only the two boys I have. No other ducks.

I change their pools three times a week and I have both pools in an area that gets the least sun, though not until after 1. I also flood the flower beds so that the ground is cooler for them and they have mud to play in. I've also made it a habit that i bring them in when the temperature is over 103. When i know we have a hot day, I'll bring them inside where there's ac during the peak heat hours. They're mat trained, so it's not a big hassle for me.

As for food, they have a big plate of it that I keep in the shade close. They also get lettuce treats every day as well as other vegetable scraps. Once a week, I toss feeder fish into their pools (they love that!). I know between the heat and their appetite I'm running out of insects for them to forage in the yard, so I try to get them extra protein. God, I hope it's not because they're hungry!!!

Any ideas how to lessen the crankyness?

 

[seashoreduck]

It's only the two boys I have. No other ducks.

I change their pools three times a week and I have both pools in an area that gets the least sun, though not until after 1. I also flood the flower beds so that the ground is cooler for them and they have mud to play in. I've also made it a habit that i bring them in when the temperature is over 103. When i know we have a hot day, I'll bring them inside where there's ac during the peak heat hours. They're mat trained, so it's not a big hassle for me.

As for food, they have a big plate of it that I keep in the shade close. They also get lettuce treats every day as well as other vegetable scraps. Once a week, I toss feeder fish into their pools (they love that!). I know between the heat and their appetite I'm running out of insects for them to forage in the yard, so I try to get them extra protein. God, I hope it's not because they're hungry!!!

Any ideas how to lessen the crankyness?

Especially when they are young and growing it's not terrible to leave out crumbs or pellets for them to free feed. Veggies and insets are ok but they may be in need of some carbo-loading. Ice in the pool, lots of mud time, bringing them in are all good solutions. And just living with their moods...it will pass, but little things have a tough time.

My hubs and I set out a have-a-heart trap to catch chipmunks harassing my ducks. It wasn't even in the sun and the chipmunk was in there for no more than 2 hours (my estimate more like 40 minutes--I checked the trap every 2 hours) and at just under 80 the poor chippy died. Heat--even not in a car--can be deadly.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Ducks don't always bite because they're cranky. Sometimes they just do it for fun, I think. I've had males and females do it. Out of all the breeds I have kept, I noticed Black Swedish did it MUCH more often than the others. I don't know why, must have been genetic. Like dogs, some breeds have stronger instincts than others. I think this may be the foraging instinct. I would give them a big pumpkin or watermelon, cut in half, and let them tear into it all day. They'll love it.

 

[bishybishbish]

Especially when they are young and growing it's not terrible to leave out crumbs or pellets for them to free feed.   Veggies and insets are ok but they may be in need of some carbo-loading.  Ice in the pool, lots of mud time, bringing them in are all good solutions.   And just living with their moods...it will pass, but little things have a tough time.

My hubs and I set out a have-a-heart trap to catch chipmunks harassing my ducks.  It wasn't even in the sun and the chipmunk was in there for no more than 2 hours (my estimate more like 40 minutes--I checked the trap every 2 hours) and at just under 80 the poor chippy died.    Heat--even not in a car--can be deadly.

Oh I definitely agree! Especially the heat where I am. On super hot days, I'll bring them inside until the temp starts dropping. They roam the house, make a lot of excited noises, and harass my fat cat. Sprinklers come on three days a week (I'm rationed) in the evening, so they get fun time then too.

I buy them scratch and crumbs. It's time to go shopping though, should I buy pellets? I wasn't going to buy more crumbs because i thought maybe they outgrew it.

 

[seashoreduck]

Oh I definitely agree! Especially the heat where I am. On super hot days, I'll bring them inside until the temp starts dropping. They roam the house, make a lot of excited noises, and harass my fat cat. Sprinklers come on three days a week (I'm rationed) in the evening, so they get fun time then too.

I buy them scratch and crumbs. It's time to go shopping though, should I buy pellets? I wasn't going to buy more crumbs because i thought maybe they outgrew it.

I'm a big meaninie and started pellets around 8 weeks. They had to work at it but kept them busy. Honestly, it's alot easier to scatter and keep them running and active. Crumbs are the spawn of Satan (as far as mess) and I switch as soon as they can get their beaks on big stuff.

 

[bishybishbish]

Watermelon! That's a great idea! I'll go pick one up today.

 

[seashoreduck]

Ducks don't always bite because they're cranky. Sometimes they just do it for fun, I think. I've had males and females do it. Out of all the breeds I have kept, I noticed Black Swedish did it MUCH more often than the others. I don't know why, must have been genetic. Like dogs, some breeds have stronger instincts than others. I think this may be the foraging instinct. I would give them a big pumpkin or watermelon, cut in half, and let them tear into it all day. They'll love it.

HAHA, yes this is also true. Is your Black Swedish from Metzer? Mine was the naughtiest and she's female. I curbed it by about 9 weeks by yiping and hissing enough to spook her. It had to be loud enough to spook her because any less would be a game.