He doesn’t let me get too close, but I was able to spray off the blood from his feet. We are treating him, and all of them really, for scaly leg mites right now. He’s for them the worst and his legs and feet were already sensitive from the bad scales falling off. So that seems to be where he was injured the most. He is moving fine and I don’t see any more blood from his wings. I think he is ok. But will watch again today.
They have all been raised together. In fact I got the roo and drake from the same lady. So they knew each other before I had them. They didn’t room together then but the shared the outside space during the day. We’ve had them for 8 months and never had problems. The only thing I can think is the duckling clutch is maturing and there’s 3 drakes in the bunch, they are Big Boys babies, I think he’s fighting for dominance, even tho the roo has never been a threat to him. We are looking for homes or trades for the three adolescent drakes.
Welp, I guess that solves that problem then! He's taken up permanant residence in solitary lol. Aparently he isn't that concerned about his female ducks! He'll live alone I suppose if that's what he wants to do. I guess you'll have to build another coop seeing as he's claimed this one!
Ok, let us know if you find any more injuries that need to be treated
Will do, he’s a stinker , helping him is difficult.Welp, I guess that solves that problem then! He's taken up permanant residence in solitary lol. Aparently he isn't that concerned about his female ducks! He'll live alone I suppose if that's what he wants to do. I guess you'll have to build another coop seeing as he's claimed this one!
Ok, let us know if you find any more injuries that need to be treated
Has he fought the three drakes? Does he seem friendly, aggressive, or indifferent towards them? I would keep one in case Big Boy passes away but that's just me lol, perhaps you should let Big Boy be alone in his old age and his sons take over.
He doesn’t fight them but he postures them if you will. Sort of bullies them where he will allow them to be in the coup or outside. He’ll chase them, but it seems like normal pecking order stuff. Not violent like what I saw yesterday. He’s typically indifferent towards them. They can be within 3 feet of him and he couldn’t care less, unless he thinks he needs that space for himself. I would like to keep the more docile of the 3 just in case as well. Big Boy is my children’s favorite. He lets them hug him and he eats out of their hands, he’s typically very easy to manage. He gets cranky sometimes and does the scovy hiss, but has never been super aggressive or violent.
I wouldn't get rid of Big Boy then. Does he seem to want to be with the others (such as his hens) or does he like to be alone? I'm just saying you could let him stay in the solitary coop or build him one of his own if he doesn't appear to mind being alone. Or you could start a whole other flock of ducks to be with him or give him his favorite hen ect. There's a lot of things you could do in order to seperate the roo and this guy. You could of course seperate the ducks and chickens too. How do Big Boy's sons get along with the chickens and the rooster? If they don't get along with them then I'd seperate the chickens and ducks entirely if possible, but if they get alone having Big Boy dwell in his own coop may be the solution. I wouldn't neccesarily blame the three new drakes for him attacking the rooster, because he doesn't seem aggressive towards them, but you never know. I would go ahead and keep the more docile of the three like you planned on doing. You could even keep all three if there isn't much violence and you can afford to. How do the 3 drakes interact with eachother? Surprisingly, changing flock dynamics even by taking away male birds can sometimes lead to conflict that wasn't there before. Some people on this site have said that two male birds are more likely to fight eachother than if there's 3 or more. But of course every flock is different.
Big Boy has his two fav hens. They follow him around all day when he is with them. The new drakes get along with the chickens and other hens and ducks fine. The peck amongst each other. There’s 6 total in the sibling group. The girl ones seem more agro than the boys really. Lol. We are working on another coup currently to separate ducks and chickens at least at night. They free range during the day. Thanks for the tips.
If I did seperate Big Boy I'd give him those two hens. But it sounds like you're working on fixing them problem by giving the chickens and ducks two seperate coopsBig Boy has his two fav hens. They follow him around all day when he is with them. The new drakes get along with the chickens and other hens and ducks fine. The peck amongst each other. There’s 6 total in the sibling group. The girl ones seem more agro than the boys really. Lol. We are working on another coup currently to separate ducks and chickens at least at night. They free range during the day. Thanks for the tips.
Your drakes seem perfectly fine and surprisingly non-aggressive lol. How old are they again? Your welcome and good luck!They will be 12 weeks old on Sunday. They are pretty sweet. Big Boy finally decided to come out and he went straight for his two girls. He missed them so much he tried to chase them both at the same time. It was pretty funny. He tripped and fell on his face then got up kept chasing. Here he is very happy to be swimming with her.If I did seperate Big Boy I'd give him those two hens. But it sounds like you're working on fixing them problem by giving the chickens and ducks two seperate coops
