My duckling is biting the feathers off my other ducklings tail!

[Pluto8]

I have 8 muscovy ducklings most about 6 weeks of age and some about 4-5 weeks. One of my ducklings, Doughnut is biting off feathers off the tails of my other ducklings. The area of where the feathers were bitten off is red and may had been bleeding. This started happening as of yesterday. Should i separate the doughnut from the rest or leave him? Is this normal for ducklings to do? Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

 

[sourland]

I would separate that duckling before others start this bad habit.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I have 8 muscovy ducklings most about 6 weeks of age and some about 4-5 weeks. One of my ducklings, Doughnut is biting off feathers off the tails of my other ducklings. The area of where the feathers were bitten off is red and may had been bleeding. This started happening as of yesterday. Should i separate the doughnut from the rest or leave him? Is this normal for ducklings to do? Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Separate them. I don't know why it would do this. Have they always been together and do they have plenty of room to get away from each other. That looks more like chicken behavior to me as I have never had a duck pick on another one to that extent. I would first clean the wound well with warm water and after it is dry put Vetericyn wound care spray on it and then blue cote. You can get it from TSC. This is not normal behavior and if they are being kept outdoors the wound can get fly strike and it can die. Good luck with the little one. Do they have plenty of food and water also.

 

[Pluto8]

Separate them. I don't know why it would do this. Have they always been together and do they have plenty of room to get away from each other. That looks more like chicken behavior to me as I have never had a duck pick on another one to that extent. I would first clean the wound well with warm water and after it is dry put Vetericyn wound care spray on it and then blue cote. You can get it from TSC. This is not normal behavior and if they are being kept outdoors the wound can get fly strike and it can die. Good luck with the little one. Do they have plenty of food and water also.

Yes, they have plenty food and water. How should I separate him should i put him in a box away from or the others? I'm not sure about the enclosure if they have enough space but i uploaded a photo of how their coop looks like. Sorry if its not a good enough photo. It's raining outside and I cant go to get a better photo.

 

[Pluto8]

I would separate that duckling before others start this bad habit.

How should i separate the duckling?

 

[Luv Ducks]

Yes, they have plenty food and water. How should I separate him should i put him in a box away from or the others? I'm not sure about the enclosure if they have enough space but i uploaded a photo of how their coop looks like. Sorry if its not a good enough photo. It's raining outside and I cant go to get a better photo.

How should i separate the duckling?

You can get cheap netting and stakes to keep it in a corner of the pen where it can still see the others but not hurt anyone. Be sure it has a dish of food and water it can get to or keep it in a large dog crate. It cannot be allowed to pick on the others. I don't know why it would do this.

 

[Pluto8]

Separate them. I don't know why it would do this. Have they always been together and do they have plenty of room to get away from each other. That looks more like chicken behavior to me as I have never had a duck pick on another one to that extent. I would first clean the wound well with warm water and after it is dry put Vetericyn wound care spray on it and then blue cote. You can get it from TSC. This is not normal behavior and if they are being kept outdoors the wound can get fly strike and it can die. Good luck with the little one. Do they have plenty of food and water also.

How do I prevent a fly strike from happening?

 

[Pluto8]

You can get cheap netting and stakes to keep it in a corner of the pen where it can still see the others but not hurt anyone. Be sure it has a dish of food and water it can get to or keep it in a large dog crate. It cannot be allowed to pick on the others. I don't know why it would do this.

Their feathers grew back and doughnut has stoped biting the feathers. Thanks for your help

 

[Luv Ducks]

Their feathers grew back and doughnut has stoped biting the feathers. Thanks for your help

So glad to hear and you are most welcome.