duckling bullying and hurting everyone

[Apolinne]

Hello friends,

once again I need advice. I have 8 runner ducks they are all hatch mates, now 5 weeks old, almost 6.
The smallest duckling (Kepler - he was a stargazer), who hatched last and still is a little bit smaller than everyone else (but not by much) is a total jerk. For about a week now he keeps nipping at everyone. I noticed they all sort of nip and poke each other but this guy hurts everyone. 3 different duckies had a bleeding feather because of him. And today I noticed one of them (vigo, the one with the shaky legs, if anyone is following my other thread) had 4 feathers bloody and now dried. I couldn't easily see it on him because he has black wings. I only noticed because there was suddenly blood on my hand when I picked him up this morning.
Kepler, the little jerk bullies everyone away from the swimming pool and away from treats. I tried separating him but when the other ducks move more than a meter away from his enclosure he just runs around the edges of the fencing beeping desperately. What should I do ? I feel so sorry for him when he's alone but I don't want him to be hurting everyone. Maybe it's a drake and that's why he's like that ? Is this normal ? Will it maybe stop as he gets older ?

 

[Apolinne]

There is this one ducky - Castor that Kepler (the bully) does not seem to attack, at least not to the point of drawing blood. I saw Castor nip back at Kepler in return to sort of tell him off. Should I separate them together so that Kepler's not alone ? I'm scared that Castor will get hurt.

 

[KathiQuacks]

No, this is not normal. This kind of pecking behavior usually comes from lack of space or boredom. Ducks are also drawn to the color red and are more likely to peck at it again.

The behavior does not necessarily mean Kepler is a drake, but if you haven’t heard them honk yet, he could be. I found all my female ducklings to honk at least a little bit by 4 weeks old, the honk getting louder and more frequent as they age. Males keep their baby peep until around 8 - 10 weeks.

I’d separate Kepler from the ones that have been pecked and bled at least until they heal. You could certainly try keeping Castor with Kepler, or keep Castor in another enclosure next to Kepler, but separated through a fence.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How big is their coop they are being kept in at night? How long are they out and about in the yard during the day? How many drakes do you have?

 

[Apolinne]

How big is their coop they are being kept in at night? How long are they out and about in the yard during the day? How many drakes do you have?

They are free to roam the yard all day long from about 6:30 till about 19:30 and it's a big yard. They stick to this patch where their pools are and are hesitant to follow me when I go to other parts of the garden. But they are getting braver every day. And during the night they are in the coop/brooder which is about 4,5 x4 feet. I'm working on a bigger coop, but it's not ready yet. I figured it will suffice till they are a little older, won't it ? I don't really know who's a drake and who's a duck yet. I suspect 3 drakes and 5 ducks but they are too young to be able to tell for sure

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They are free to roam the yard all day long from about 6:30 till about 19:30 and it's a big yard. They stick to this patch where their pools are and are hesitant to follow me when I go to other parts of the garden. But they are getting braver every day. And during the night they are in the coop/brooder which is about 4,5 x4 feet. I'm working on a bigger coop, but it's not ready yet. I figured it will suffice till they are a little older, won't it ? I don't really know who's a drake and who's a duck yet. I suspect 3 drakes and 5 ducks but they are too young to be able to tell for sure

Your brooder size is your problem. That is way too small for 8 especially with three of them being drakes. When they are cooped up all night long without enough space their annoyance with each other just builds and when they are let out into the yard they have the room to act on it. It would be like locking 8 kids in a small room every night and not expecting there to be fights when you let them out in the morning.

 

[Apolinne]

No, this is not normal. This kind of pecking behavior usually comes from lack of space or boredom. Ducks are also drawn to the color red and are more likely to peck at it again.

The behavior does not necessarily mean Kepler is a drake, but if you haven’t heard them honk yet, he could be. I found all my female ducklings to honk at least a little bit by 4 weeks old, the honk getting louder and more frequent as they age. Males keep their baby peep until around 8 - 10 weeks.

I’d separate Kepler from the ones that have been pecked and bled at least until they heal. You could certainly try keeping Castor with Kepler, or keep Castor in another enclosure next to Kepler, but separated through a fence.

Boredom :O ? How do I make sure they are not bored ? They free roam so I don't think it's a space issue. Maybe during the night in the coop. Their coop is about 4,5 x 4 feet, is it too small ? They always nap and rest all in one pile even outside smacking each other with their feet as they stretch. When outside I only saw Kepler nip at others when swimming and when I gave treats.

 

[KathiQuacks]

Boredom :O ? How do I make sure they are not bored ? They free roam so I don't think it's a space issue. Maybe during the night in the coop. Their coop is about 4,5 x 4 feet, is it too small ? They always nap and rest all in one pile even outside smacking each other with their feet as they stretch. When outside I only saw Kepler nip at others when swimming and when I gave treats.

4.5 x 4 is too small, yes. At this point, they should have closer to 4 sq ft per duck. They may sleep in a pile, but they still need the room to get up, walk around, and spread their wings. Like HollowOfWisps said, lack of space makes ducks irritable and can cause aggression to be expressed out in the yard.

Them getting to run around outside, swim, eat bugs, like how they are now will help with any boredom.

 

[Apolinne]

Your brooder size is your problem. That is way too small for 8 especially with three of them being drakes. When they are cooped up all night long without enough space their annoyance with each other just builds and when they are let out into the yard they have the room to act on it. It would be like locking 8 kids in a small room every night and not expecting there to be fights when you let them out in the morning.

I was afraid you'll say that. I was prepared for maybe 5 duckies as it was my first time hatching anything. I ended up with 8 fertile eggs out of 10 and they all hatched. I love all of my 8 babies I'm so sad they're getting hurt.
The "adult" coop is 6,5 x 7,5 feet will that be enough ?

 

[Apolinne]

4.5 x 4 is too small, yes. At this point, they should have closer to 4 sq ft per duck. They may sleep in a pile, but they still need the room to get up, walk around, and spread their wings. Like HollowOfWisps said, lack of space makes ducks irritable and can cause aggression to be expressed out in the yard.

Them getting to run around outside, swim, eat bugs, like how they are now will help with any boredom.

Oh my He's not a jerk, I'm the jerk! Can I move them into the grown up coop at this age ? It doesn't really get below 50 f at night this time of year. I can finish it tomorrow, get it all ready. And should I still separate Kepler for now ? For how long do you think ?