Our three mallard drakes – Scaramanga, Le Chiffre, and Blofeld – as of two weeks ago (and overnight) decided that the three of them will no longer get along. It was pretty much right as they turned 24 weeks old. Scaramanga and Le Chiffre would prefer to be by themselves, and they will chase Blofeld away if he gets too close. This is not such a big problem when we let them free range, since we've got a big yard. And for putting them away in safety, we've got two separate coops and two separate runs, and we have the coops facing each other with their runs attached separated by a screen. We didn't want Blofeld to be lonely, but we can't trust Scaramanga and LeChiffre not to attack him and rip feathers from his neck, so they got the separate quarters.
Here's the thing, prior to them having their little hormonal fit, each night they would put themselves to bed in their coop together. As of two weeks ago, all three won't go into the same run or coop. If left to their own devices, and with all the doors open, Scaramanga and LeChiffre will chase Blofeld into the other run.
Now here's the wacky part. Blofeld has now taken to sleeping outside in the run, next to the other run. OK, I get that. He still wants to be part of the group and he keeps trying to rejoin the other two, and they won't let him. But the other two have taken to sleeping outside right next to him! They no longer want to go into their coop! They won't let Blofeld near them, but if they have a screen in between, they don't want to sleep away from him either!
And it's really, really cold tonight. 20 F with a very stiff breeze. They've got plenty of straw, and a blanket and the coops blocking some of the wind, but they don't want to leave each other's side. They don't want to be together in the same run or coop, but put a screen between them, and they don't want to be parted. As I said, wacky.
We've yet to find an arrangement where they'll part ways for the evening. Scaramanga is clearly the alpha duck. He's the one the other two will go following. Blofeld is clearly the low drake on the totem pole. (He's also clearly the smartest – best at navigating around the yard and foraging and figuring his way around obstacles.) Can't live with each other, can't live without each other!
We're still trying to figure out a long term strategy. Any suggestions?
Here's the thing, prior to them having their little hormonal fit, each night they would put themselves to bed in their coop together. As of two weeks ago, all three won't go into the same run or coop. If left to their own devices, and with all the doors open, Scaramanga and LeChiffre will chase Blofeld into the other run.
Now here's the wacky part. Blofeld has now taken to sleeping outside in the run, next to the other run. OK, I get that. He still wants to be part of the group and he keeps trying to rejoin the other two, and they won't let him. But the other two have taken to sleeping outside right next to him! They no longer want to go into their coop! They won't let Blofeld near them, but if they have a screen in between, they don't want to sleep away from him either!
And it's really, really cold tonight. 20 F with a very stiff breeze. They've got plenty of straw, and a blanket and the coops blocking some of the wind, but they don't want to leave each other's side. They don't want to be together in the same run or coop, but put a screen between them, and they don't want to be parted. As I said, wacky.
We've yet to find an arrangement where they'll part ways for the evening. Scaramanga is clearly the alpha duck. He's the one the other two will go following. Blofeld is clearly the low drake on the totem pole. (He's also clearly the smartest – best at navigating around the yard and foraging and figuring his way around obstacles.) Can't live with each other, can't live without each other!
We're still trying to figure out a long term strategy. Any suggestions?
