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Post by Duck Diva on Dec 7, 2009 7:41:11 GMT 8
Hi all, My 1yr old drake Sunny has become more aggrevating lately.He was a little bit bad when spring arrived, a bit like the roosters which have since calmed down. He lost 2 girls over the last month or so and now just has 1. Im wondering if this has something to do with it? He loves us, but he chases us around and bites HARD! Kids too. In the mornings he is pacing up and down biting at the glass patio door when he sees us. My daughter went out yesterday morning and he rushes up and bit her ankle. He lunges through the lattice gate on his pen when I go near, trying to have a nip. They are confined to their pen in the day and only let out at night (we live in centre of town and have big solid fences/gate -no foxes). Now he doesnt do this all the time. Sometimes I can squat down and give hima pat without him trying to attack. But this seems to be at night when I let them out. He is a spoilt hand reared duck who now thinks he owns the joint. Im just hoping someone can help me turn things around and modify this behaviour. I need Dr Harry to do a house call!! lol Cheers, Wendy
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Post by annieyokie on Dec 7, 2009 8:58:30 GMT 8
Hi Wendy , Did I send rescue remedy when I sent drops .If so give him some every day for a week .If not What drops did I send, they may have calming drops in them . (mix 3 -5 drops in a little water and use the eyedropper in his mouth or 3-5drops --drop onto something he is about to eat Email me if you like I may need to send some others .Homeopathy is great for Temperament Annie
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Post by aliahna on Dec 7, 2009 10:15:29 GMT 8
I am having the exact same problem at the moment with my boy. As soon as he hears us coming out the back door he runs up to the gate, waiting to attack. He isn't too bad with me, but is very aggressive with my daughter & really hurts her when he bites. I've been grabbing him around the neck & holding his head down at ground level until I feel him give up, then I let him go. He walks away grumbling at us, but it works. This is something I saw on dr Harry funnily enough. Its hard to stop him attacking my daughter though because she screams & he knows she is afraid.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Dec 7, 2009 11:48:44 GMT 8
My Indie drake is like this every breeding season but only with me lol, my OH or son can go in the pen and he couldnt give a hoot but even if he sees me walking near the pen he's racing up and down the fence trying to get to me lol. Being that I'm the only "victim" it doesnt worry me but if he was biting my child like your drakes Wendy and Aliana that would be a different story. He's like this from July to early January every season, the rest of the year he couldnt care less about me. Oh, and my guy Addy has 4 Indie ducks and 2 Mussie ducks in his harem so not having enough ducks certainly isnt Addy's problem. I will be very interested to hear how Annies treatments work Wendy, as that might be something for me to try with Addy next season.
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Post by luv4ducks on Dec 7, 2009 11:52:26 GMT 8
sounds like your drake doens't realise he is a duck, I've only had this problem once and putting him in his place usually fixes it for me. Unfortunatley with hand raised ducks they see us humans as part of the pack, and all the drakes are doing is showing their dominance to you. What I have done is to gently grab them ( I know this can be difficult when he is trying to attack) and place him on his back, hold him there until he stops struggling, and once he has submitted to you which can take some time, gently release your grip and abruptly walk away and completely ignore him. Hopefully this works for you best of luck both of you
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Post by Duck Diva on Dec 7, 2009 20:57:20 GMT 8
Hi guys, thanks so much for all your replies! Thats a coincidence!! Out of desperation, I started this evening holding sunny down like you said Aliahna and it took several times before he gave up trying to attack me. But I will try the upside down thing Brendon, that sounds even more dominant. I will try that tomorrow. Yes it seems he thinks hes the boss and were his minions!! lol Annie I do have the rescue remedy so I will try giving him some of that as well. He still did it when he had the 3 girls, but I think he's getting worse now. If all else fails, hopefully he will stop like yours Steph. Im determined to gain the upper hand!!
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Post by aliahna on Dec 8, 2009 9:17:12 GMT 8
I think I'll give the upside down thing that Brendon said a go too. Cocoa spent the whole day locked in his pen yesterday because I was so fed up with him. Today he is even worse. He's pretty strong, so I don't know how I'll go getting him onto his back, but it's worth a try. Alexandra.
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Post by Duck Diva on Dec 8, 2009 9:36:34 GMT 8
I couldnt get Sunny on his back, so I ahve just perservered with the pushing him down adn holding his head on the ground.
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Post by chickita on Dec 8, 2009 9:52:06 GMT 8
i agree with love4duck about hand raised animals thinking they are the boss as they grow up, i have a young ram i hand reared and i still wont turn my back on him as he doesnt mind giving me a butt, although if he does go to butt me i grab him by his horns and pull him around for awhile when i let him go he runs off to find his girl friends, if he doesnt go away after i will take him to my mini ponies yard and stable and put him in(without the pony) and walk away he spends a couple of min's in there and then finds a way out and then goes to find his girl friends, not a duck but i hope it helps
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Post by rap on Dec 8, 2009 11:31:09 GMT 8
I think the upside down thing will calm him down for a while .But i don't think it will stop him altogether.I have one Pekin drake that nips sometimes or he will stand on my foot when i'm feeding them. If he persists i pick him up carry him upside down .When i put him down he ruffles his feathers wags his tail a trots off.I also grab and hold his beak but it's never cured him . The World's Best Biting Ducks In HD Wide Screen 2 min 10 sec - 16 Nov 2009 www.youtube.com
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