Questions about Strange behavior in ducks

[Bug7885]

I'm new to raising ducks and have 6 Muscovy ducks. They are now 10 weeks old. Yesterday, I noticed them doing something strange. The females were literally poking and pulling feathers out of 2 males' butts. The males were actually lifting their bottoms up allowing this. Why? Is this normal?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm new to raising ducks and have 6 Muscovy ducks. They are now 10 weeks old. Yesterday, I noticed them doing something strange. The females were literally poking and pulling feathers out of 2 males' butts. The males were actually lifting their bottoms up allowing this. Why? Is this normal?

@Bug7885 Welcome to BYC

I am sorry but I had to chuckle at your post I bet that was funny to watch..

Are they pulling out a lot of feathers and what do they do with them once pulled out?

I have had Muscovy ducks since 2004 and have never seen my females do this to a drake even at young age. So I can't say it's normal.Maybe someone else on the forum who has scovy's has seen this.@Ren2014 has scovy's of different ages maybe she has seen this behavior.

What are you feeding them? can they get out and forage for bugs? maybe the girls are looking for some added protein since feathers are made up of protein but if they aren't eating them then that is cause.

Bugs provide added protein too. and boredom can cause ducklings to pull out feathers too.
But for the drakes to actually lift their bottoms up and let the girls so this is kind of strange although years ago I had a bantam rooster that came outside one morning with a bloody comb and waddles thought for sure another roo got hold of him till I happen to see one of the hens chewing on him and he was just standing there letting her. I put a stop to that by using Blue Kote on him it disguised the bloody places and she stopped eating on him.

Are the females making a bloody patch where they are pulling feather if so some Blue Kote might work here too.

 

[Gray Farms]

I've raised muscovys for a long time as well "nearly 20 years". And also have never seen this behavior either. . . . Strange. . . It's been my experience with muscovys that boredom is the greatest cause of feather pulling. Try hanging something in their pen to play with "treats or toys". Just something to distract them. And see if it stops.

 

[Bug7885]

Thank you for the replies. @miss Lydia it was funny but also embarrassing because I had family over for a birthday party. Of course everyone had little jokes. They have plenty of access to bugs. They have free range to our pond and also have poultry food morning and evening. Yesterday was the first time I've seen this behavior, but I will be watching to see if it continues. No sore spots or bald spots so I'm assuming this was the first time it's happened. I distracted them by walking them into the pond so they could go swim. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you for the replies. @miss Lydia it was funny but also embarrassing because I had family over for a birthday party. Of course everyone had little jokes. They have plenty of access to bugs. They have free range to our pond and also have poultry food morning and evening. Yesterday was the first time I've seen this behavior, but I will be watching to see if it continues. No sore spots or bald spots so I'm assuming this was the first time it's happened. I distracted them by walking them into the pond so they could go swim. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again!

POND?? makes me nervous just talked to someone on here this morning who's duck was attacked by a snapping turtle really damaged her foot. Hope you know for sure you don't have them if it's a natural pond or man made.

Well it gave everyone something to talk and laugh about anyway. lol

 

[Bug7885]

Lol glad you had a good laugh. We love watching them play in the pond. They love it. No turtles. It's a good size man made pond on our property.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Lol glad you had a good laugh. We love watching them play in the pond. They love it. No turtles. It's a good size man made pond on our property.

Of course now you have to share pics. Those of us who have scovy's just love pics of others who love them too.