Snippy Ducklings

[jennybvcr]

Hi everyone! Just took receipt of two Blue Swedish ducklings this morning. They are doing well from their trip from Metzer's... eating, pooping, snoozing, yelling at me. When awake, they seem to be snipping at one another a lot. There are only two in a 33 gallon tub so lots of room. They of course want to do everything together, snuggle up to snooze together, but when they're awake they're constantly pecking at one another in the face and butt and back. I don't remember my last ducklings acting like this toward each other. Is there anything I should be doing to discourage bad behavior? Of course right now they're snoozing on one another like perfect angels.

And note, though one is larger than the other, the sniping is going both ways. Not one only picking on the other.

Sorry about the crappy red photo but they were sleeping so cute and I didn't want to risk turning the heat light off and disturbing them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They are adorable. Do you have a mirror and can put in with them? Mine didn't pick on each other but they sure loved laying in front of the mirror and that may distract them from picking on each other. Once about a week old I put a treat ball in with them and it was full of meal worms they would roll that ball all over to get those meal worms out. TSC carries the treat balls.

 

[Isaac 0]

Cuties!

Anything to keep them occupied will help with the fighting, treats, water or sometimes I'll put a piece of sod in their brooder with them, just make sure to provide grit if you do. Maybe increasing the space in their brooder might help as well.

 

[jennybvcr]

They are adorable.

Cuties!

Thanks for all the advice! I will definitely put a mirror in and will figure out some treats and toys for them next week. I’m not terribly worried, because they’re giving it to one another, but I don’t want it to become a problem later.

On an unrelated note... it seemed like they may have been gorging themselves and then regurgitating. Does that seems normal? They ate a ton today so I removed their food for a little while once I realized what was happening. Another thing I don’t remember from my last batch or ducklings!

 

[Isaac 0]

Thanks for all the advice! I will definitely put a mirror in and will figure out some treats and toys for them next week. I’m not terribly worried, because they’re giving it to one another, but I don’t want it to become a problem later.

On an unrelated note... it seemed like they may have been gorging themselves and then regurgitating. Does that seems normal? They ate a ton today so I removed their food for a little while once I realized what was happening. Another thing I don’t remember from my last batch or ducklings!

Are they throwing their food back up after eating? Or are they just eating fast? Yes, ducklings will eat a lot of food, sometimes they will cough a little with the food in their mouth then swallow it down with some water .

 

[jennybvcr]

Are they throwing their food back up after eating? Or are they just eating fast? Yes, ducklings will eat a lot of food, sometimes they will cough a little with the food in their mouth then swallow it down with some water .

I made a slurry of crumble and water and I noticed that like, a strand of food goo would come from their bills once in a while. Like when you burb up food (sorry to be gross.)

 

[Jpat]

I made a slurry of crumble and water and I noticed that like, a strand of food goo would come from their bills once in a while. Like when you burb up food (sorry to be gross.)

You cant gross anyone out here!
Are you keeping food out constantly?

 

[jennybvcr]

You cant gross anyone out here!
Are you keeping food out constantly?

They only got here today, but I did give them the food when they arrived and left it out until I noticed they were maybe gorging. I put it back down a little while ago because they were having a peep fit.