Post by catherine on Aug 26, 2008 8:55:52 GMT -5
Bless the poor duckys' bald backs! This plucking sounds like it's going on due to the stress of overcrowding? Or perhaps they are low on protein? Maybe it's moving stress? I'm just guessing here. It sounds like it's not happening all at once, but a few nibbles here and a few nibbles there. Maybe there's a new pecking order that they are trying to establish since the recent move, and the pecked ducks are the lowest ones on the totem pole for your little flock. I would think that taking them out of one flock and putting them in another would only exacerbate the situation, as then they've got to findt their way into another pecking order. If you are going to be butchering soon, anyway, and you have the room, I think I'd seperate the pecked ones until butchering time. If you are going to keep them longer, then I think I'd put a lot of that anti-pick goo on them, to discourage any repeat picking. It's this nasty, black tar like substance that'll stain his feathers, so I don't know that I'd do it shortly before butchering. Also, I think I'd increase the percentage of protein that the birds are receiving?
I did a search for you and found someone else with a nearly identical question on answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080824045412AAeMxie. I gather that moving is a real stressor to them, as is overcrowding. However, as these ducks are about 4 months old, like your's are, these good folks seem to think that that picking, at least, could be due to the birds coming into sexual maturity! They might be either over preening fragile and immature feathers, fighting over females, or clumsy attempts to mate. They suggest, if things start getting really bloody, to seperate them into groups that have only 1 male to a grouping, if possible. Then, once their adult feathers have fully grown in, bring the whole flock back together, and they should pair up...if you are wanting them to mate.
Do let us know what happens, ok? We've got one 3 month old drake and five 7 week old ducklings in a pen together. Oh, also, at what age do you normally butcher? Please keep us posted, as I've never raised Muscovies before, and am VERY interested in learning how things go for you with yours...esp. the part where you get to taste them?! Thanks!
I did a search for you and found someone else with a nearly identical question on answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080824045412AAeMxie. I gather that moving is a real stressor to them, as is overcrowding. However, as these ducks are about 4 months old, like your's are, these good folks seem to think that that picking, at least, could be due to the birds coming into sexual maturity! They might be either over preening fragile and immature feathers, fighting over females, or clumsy attempts to mate. They suggest, if things start getting really bloody, to seperate them into groups that have only 1 male to a grouping, if possible. Then, once their adult feathers have fully grown in, bring the whole flock back together, and they should pair up...if you are wanting them to mate.
Do let us know what happens, ok? We've got one 3 month old drake and five 7 week old ducklings in a pen together. Oh, also, at what age do you normally butcher? Please keep us posted, as I've never raised Muscovies before, and am VERY interested in learning how things go for you with yours...esp. the part where you get to taste them?! Thanks!