4 week old foster mascovies pulling each others fluff out..please help

[Ronsgirl520]

Please help! I live in a neighborhood where my HOA likes to kill the Muskovy‘s since they are not native here in Florida. A mama laid about 20 eggs in my yard and hatched. Two eggs were kicked out of the nest several times so they went in my incubator and ended up hatching. The rest outside hatched and seem to be doing well. The next day I found an abandoned baby recently hatched, late, by itself with mom and other babies nowhere to be found for hours so it went in my brooder with the rest of them. And then the fourth one I heard chirping out in the pond that got lost from his mom. He swim right to me. An egret in the neighborhood ate about half of the babies and the HOA took the rest from their mother. I’m not very happy with them because they continuously try to eradicate the ducks. Between the two moms in my neighborhood all 35+ babies are gone other than the four I was able to save. They are four weeks old now and They’ve been doing very well until last night. They are now being very aggressive and pulling the fluff out of each other. They get swim time with live minnows swimming around for them to catch, live mealworms, high-protein starter food and are in about a 6 foot pin with a warmer. I have property with a pond but nervous to let them outside at only four weeks old and not fully feathered. I’m really concerned with this behavior though and not sure if it’s normal because they’re starting to get bare in certain spots with only a day of this happening. I’m not sure of the sexes but one is an obvious male. He is absolutely ginormous and he is the one getting picked on the most. The one picking on him I’m pretty certain is a mail as well. The other two I’m not sure of. Please tell me what to do. I’m ready to let them outside but just scared if they’ll make but can’t watch them continue to do this to each other

 

[Crazy Maizie]

That's very kind of you to rescue them.
I understand that muscovies are a nuisance in FL and that is why HOAs can eradicate them.
As for their naughtiness, its definitely time for them to have more room although your set up is fabulous. Mine were picking at each other around the same age. They love to pick on each other even when full grown. But, I also understand your hesitation to put them outside. Since it is FL, I doubt the temps are an issue. However, will they have any protection once place outside?
There is a duck form here with lots of muscovy owners.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

 

[Ronsgirl520]

That's very kind of you to rescue them.
I understand that muscovies are a nuisance in FL and that is why HOAs can eradicate them.
As for their naughtiness, its definitely time for them to have more room although your set up is fabulous. Mine were picking at each other around the same age. They love to pick on each other even when full grown. But, I also understand your hesitation to put them outside. Since it is FL, I doubt the temps are an issue. However, will they have any protection once place outside?
There is a duck form here with lots of muscovy owners.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ducks.42/

Thank you for your feedback. I ended up taking them to my friends property where he can watch over them. I took my old cat litter Box cabinet and turned it into a little shelter for them. They would rather sit on his front porch though. tons of greenery and shade and a aerated large pond with a fountain. I was a hot mess breaking down their indoor pen last night and didn’t sleep well thinking about them. I was literally an empty nester lol I went over there twice today to check on them. There are some adult wood ducks in the area so maybe they will connect with them. I had a feeling it was time to let them free so thank you for validating that. I’m so in love with this species of duck. I wish they were native so they wouldn’t be hassled with but understand.