Please Help! Aggressive duck!

[DuckLover3]

My Rouen/Khaki Campbell mix duck is getting really aggressive. He's about 8 months old and up until a few days ago he was the greatest pet, letting me pick him up, pet him, and otherwise just love on him. Now he's biting my feet and hands, and he broke the skin today on my hands and caused bleeding. I can't help but think it's partially my fault because the day before he started doing this I had bare feet on and was letting him play with them. When he started nipping at them I would jump back, playing with him, and he would run after them. The next day he was biting harder, and that's how it's been progressing. Also, I just started clipping his wings so that he couldn't fly out of the enclosure because he had been going into the woods. I think he might just be playing, and since he hasn't been able to be out foraging in the yard, he probably has a lot of energy. But I really can't just let him out because I'm afraid he'll get eaten while he's in the woods, or stay too far out. Please help! I really don't know what to do! I love Percy, he's always been one of my sweetest ducks, so that's another reason why I think he might just be playing, but how do I stop this?

 

[Tahai]

He's 8 months old, and it's mating season. He's filled up with testosterone, and has lots of aggressive energy as a result. This may work itself out in time (at the end of the breeding season), but you'll still need to consistently and firmly reprimand him immediately, the same as you would a dog that you are training. Reward the behavior you want with peas.

Good Luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You said he's one of your sweetest ducks does that mean you have more? and are they females? if not then i would get him at least 2-3 females so he can shower his attention on them and maybe not be as aggressive towards you.

 

[Oregon Blues]

That's not unusual in drakes raised as pets. He doesn't see any difference between himself and you. He's treating you like he'd treat another duck.

It is not normal duck behavior, but he is confused about his identity.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Inky, my Magpie drake used to just be a love bug. Since he has gotten older he started nibbling on me, and then it turned into biting. When ever he tryed to bit me I would pick him up and hold him for a couple of second, make sure you are have a good grip on him as he will try and kick and fight to be put down. Hold him until he stops fighting, pet him and tell him what a good boy he is and then set him down. Do it over, and over, and over until he figures it out. That is what we did with Inky and it seemed to help alot. When ever I walk into their pen Inky will stay on the otherside of the pen, unless I have food and they're hungry, but as soon as I turn my back to walk out the door he rushes to the door and starts trying to nibble/bite me and he follows me around the run trying to get to me. Sometimes I think he is trying to be mean and show me who is boss, but other times I think he just wants some attention. Good luck with him.

~ Aspen

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's not unusual in drakes raised as pets. He doesn't see any difference between himself and you. He's treating you like he'd treat another duck.

It is not normal duck behavior, but he is confused about his identity.

I was having this problem with my Muscovy drake that i raised in the house last year, he was horrible for a couple months, but he has gradually started to calm down quite a bit, he has 3 girls to run with and he will still every once in a while bite too hard but usually all i have to do now is take hold of his bill and tell him stop biting and he listens. I really think hormones, looking at us as another member of their flock[harem] is confusing and once they learn we aren't things get reasonably normal again. { if thats possible with ducks] lol.

 

[DuckLover3]

Thank you so much for all the help! I'll definitely try everything mentioned.