What is going on with my Muscovies?

[harleyjo]

I am new to Muscovies. I had two ducklings last summer. One died and the other one, that I know is a female now lived with my chickens until about 4 months ago we got a male and 2 females. All 3 of these females are less than a year old.

They were all 4 getting along great and together all the time until a few weeks ago. They started staying outside at night when I closed up the coop. I was fine with that because I wanted to get them out of there anyway.

So we have a big wooden box that we cut a hole in and put bedding and food and water nearby. They found it soon and have been going in there. At least 3 of them have been.

One of the younger females, I am guessing she is 6 to 7 months old now, is now staying away from the others. The male is mating with at least one of the other females and chases and will mate with this one when he can catch her.

She runs away all the time and isn't usually around the other ducks. Any idea what might be going on here?

 

[Duck Mad]

ducks do have good memories.. she could of been hurt by the one/s she runs from..
I have 1 chicken out of 16 that decided to try and fight with the ducks, this happened just once, now my ducks completely avoid being near that one chicken.... the ducks know exactly which chicken to avoid!

its proven here that they remember things things and avoid things that scare them.. most of my birds follow me, if my ducks are following me, but that naughty chicken follows too, the ducks stand still to see where she is going..

it could be that your duck was scared (if she was knocked about by the other if mating is going on, or the drake could of really pinched her.. obviously nothing serious just a one off thing

 

[harleyjo]

I wonder if this is the case if she will eventually join the other ducks again. Right now she does everything alone. Is never with any of them.

 

[sourland]

Sounds as if she is not enjoying the "attention" from the drake. She'll be fine.