save me from this duck!!

[Darkjeweler]

Quote:
Ok thank you for that info!! I'm going to try that in a bit- next time I go outside!! Yeah the pushing/swatting/grabbing didn't really affect him at all- which is why I posted on here.

Those of you with the shoe comments HA. HA

. J/k. Shoes did cross my mind but what a pain! I live by the beach- we literally wear sandals to fancy restaurants. The only shoes I to wear are when my job doesn't allow open toe and in that instance they are nice expensive shoes you wouldn't tromp around the backyard in. Plus shoes aren't really fitting very comfortably right now since I'm pregnant. AND my argument is that his behavior is unacceptable and needs to change shoes would only mask the problem until I wore sandals again.

Not True!... When you wear shoes/slippers/whatever you are hiding your nice yummy toes. What the ducks can't see, the ducks won't try to eat..

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Spot on advice. Treat him as a dominant male would.

 

[mickeymousears]

Yeah I only have 2 ducks so I've never seen how a real flock works. But I can/will be pinning him down from now on. He he he

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Spot on advice. Treat him as a dominant male would.

My Muscovy duckling is 3 months old and he has started doing the same thing this week, attacking my toes when i walk, so thats exactly what I have been doing getting him from neck and back and pushing him down in dominant position till he stops struggling, then i let him up, he stands there for a second then waddles off.

 

[mickeymousears]

I pinned his fluffy butt down this morning. He got back up fluffed his feathers and quaked at me. A bit later I wasn't paying attention and he caught my toe so I pinned him again. He seemed to leave me alone but when I went to go inside he chased me-which is fine they all follow me around. I just wasn't sure if it was a toe biting chase or a what are you going to give me chase (I made it in the house before I could find out)

Question: I know compressing bird chests can cause suffocation. How do I know if I'm holding him down to hard??

 

[dianaross77]

I would think you'd have to be squeezing him to restrict breathing. If you're worried, try just moving your hand down a little further toward his tail. I like to squat down and invite an "attack." That way I'm in a comfortable position to pin them. And I'm sure bending over is getting harder for you everyday.

When he was behind you was his head up or did he lower it and straighten his neck? Usually when they are charging in an aggressive way, the stretch their necks and lower their heads.

 

[newbyduckmom]

So lately when I pick up my drakes the crook their necks down below their bodies when I have them cradled in my arms. This is an aggressive behavior? Hmmmm.....I wondered. But they seemed pretty docile otherwise. Darn. Figuring out duck behavior is no easier than humans!

 

[dianaross77]

Quote:
Are they flattened out? A straight horizontal line from their bills to their tails? It could be a submissive posture. Like the one a duck takes to be mated.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Well, not really, their heads/necks are usually more 's' shaped and held down below their bodies. Reminds me of when they are on their feet in the "bachelor pad" and attack my hands/arms when I put their food in. But there had been no attempt to bit or attack (thankfully) when I am holding them. It's just a new behavior (as there are so many of with this adult male duck routine), and not sure what to make of it. Cautious when they do it though.

They were so cute and easy when they were the size of little Ciscoe in my profile pic!

 

[dianaross77]

Hmmm. I don't know but I don't let my boys do anything more than lightly touch me with their bills. To me it's a respect thing. I'm top drake. If I watch them together, they will touch eachother with their bills but don't grab, pinch, or twist. The only time I have ever seen that was when fights for dominance broke out between the two pekin drakes I had. So I take that to mean grabbing,pinching, and twisting are a challenge for dominance and I don't allow it.