The ladies are going to kill each other! Hormones or something else?

[newbyduckmom]

About three weeks ago one of my hens (Mocha) starting attacking another hen (Mildred). Both are Khaki Campbells, purchased and raised together. Never had a problem before. I wondered if it was breeding time/hormones, attacking a weaker (sickly) duck, or just that Mildred is the drakes "favorite" hen and drakes have never wanted much to do with Mocha. The saga continues. Mocha is now attacking my new young drakes - attacking throats. In the duck house at night, she squawks all night long. They are separated in the duck house, and at this point have no where else to house her, unless I bring her in the house in a carrier. Just curious as to whether anyone else has had a similar problem. She is quite aggressive, seemingly desperate for the drakes attention. Was hopeful that it would lessen by the end of August/early Sept when the breeding frenzy got a little less, but so far that's not happening. She seems heathy otherwise, eating well, feathers look good, but she's seemingly gone nuts!

 

[Amiga]

We are having some unanticipated hormonal issues here, too. Almost Labor Day, and I have two - no, make that three - flocks.

We gots the broodies - three or four of them, since Romy is part-time.

We gots the Coffee Buffies - three of them, including our drake, Bean.

We gots the Runners - which includes Romy when she is not feeling broody.

Vier is a runner who has developed drake feathers. Yup. Drake feathers. Her voice has become hoarse and squeaky. She glares at Bean, and fusses and Carmella and Hazel, Bean's girls.

and on and on.

So I am offering some empathy, and, I would bring her into a crate at night.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Nice to know I am not the only one! She's just nuts. I hope it subsides.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Today 3 of my broodys[sitting on nothing] are chasing each other and acting like idiots, 2 of the girls have been broody way past time to hatch anything and the other one just started up this week in the same stall I figured she joined them to keep them from beating her butt every evening when her and the drake go in to bed. This is insane to say the least. I guess it's going on from the east to the west and all points in between.

 

[Amiga]

Today 3 of my broodys[sitting on nothing] are chasing each other and acting like idiots, 2 of the girls have been broody way past time to hatch anything and the other one just started up this week in the same stall I figured she joined them to keep them from beating her butt every evening when her and the drake go in to bed. This is insane to say the least. I guess it's going on from the east to the west and all points in between.

What do you think it means?

 

[newbyduckmom]

Our weather has been weird. I have had bizarre things happen with plants. Ducks started the frenzied breeding sooner and molted sooner and seemingly for longer period. Bizarre summer all around.

 

[Going Quackers]

Quite normal. I have one duck here who is quite aggressive but she's is one of my originals so is top duck if you go by pecking orders. As to fights? ha yeah, people always think drakes, nah the girls are pretty tough, my one duck went after one of the Mar drake the other day, definitely threw him but she wasn't having any of this nonsense. I also had my Mar duck get in a fight with an older duck, guess she wants to rank higher ??

As with drakes see it doesn't get out of hand, nothing gets along all the time BUT especially during hormones breeding time ensuring things don't turn nasty is important, i have knock on wood not had females harm each other, other than feathers flying but i do keep a close watch they can be extremely rough on the new females coming up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank goodness my 2 young ones have been out of this craziness it's the broodies going after the broodies, the rest just stand around with craned necks watching and keeping out of their way. Maybe starting so early in the season has something to do with it, mine were mating and laying in Jan this year which is unheard of here it's always been late march. And they just won't give up going much longer than the 35 days of brooding and hatching. I have 2 repeats also, and none on eggs. And molting has started earlier than normal here too.

update... just heard squealing and went to see what's going on, the 3 girls are at it again. One grabbing hold of feathers while the other one is trying to get away, then the drake has to get in on it too by going after one of them, I'm just going to stay out of it as long as no one is getting hurt. I'll just monitor from the sidelines.

 

[newbyduckmom]

This morning I put Mocha in the run when the other ducks were free ranging (because she was attacking everything that moved). Mildred headed straight for the run and attacked from the outside of the tractor. Mildred - mild mannered little, sickly, low on the totem pole, Mildred (love that silly duck) attacked like crazy. I separated them, she went around the other side of the tractor, and they went at it again. A quick squirt of the I-am-filling-your-water-dishes-and-have-the-hose-in-my-hand medicine solved the problem.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This morning I put Mocha in the run when the other ducks were free ranging (because she was attacking everything that moved). Mildred headed straight for the run and attacked from the outside of the tractor. Mildred - mild mannered little, sickly, low on the totem pole, Mildred (love that silly duck) attacked like crazy. I separated them, she went around the other side of the tractor, and they went at it again. A quick squirt of the I-am-filling-your-water-dishes-and-have-the-hose-in-my-hand medicine solved the problem.

Good for you!! I just put my meanie inside for the 3rd time tonight, every time I'd let her back in she would start beating up her sister [I had to toss her out earlier because of it] so third time did it she went in and settled down. Crazy things all of them.

I like to use the hose to when I have it handy.