Ducks eating each other's feathers??

[tofukiwi]

I have two pekin ducks, both around two months old. The smaller one is often the one who leads the larger one, but I find that the smaller one always nibbles and plucks out feathers from the larger one's wing. The smaller one plucks the feathers out to the point where the other duck even starts bleeding. (The small one is the only one plucking the feathers, the larger one just accepts it).

Is this behaviour common in ducks? Is there any way to prevent this from happening?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I saw that in my muscovy ducklings this year. They eventually stopped it after they started to go outside more. I think they were doing it out of boredom. You can try a no pick spray if it continues.

 

[IttyBittyBirdy]

Need more protein or they're bored.
When my first pair of ducks were growing they started doing this, and it was my experience that adding some protein to their diet and getting them outside helped tremendously.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I do not have experience with ducks, but chickens will feather pick and even eat feathers off the ground if they are not getting enough protein. Feed something they like with lots of protein in it like, cat food, scrambled eggs, whatever ducks like. A week with extra protein should fix the problem if it's protein shortage. If they are bored, that won't fix it.

 

[aart]

The smaller one plucks the feathers out to the point where the other duck even starts bleeding.

Do they have new pin feathers coming in?
Those can bleed badly when broken.
What all and how exactly are you feeding?