help! My ducklings have been pecking at each others necks and today I found them eating on a dead duckling whats going on and how do I fix this? they are about 2 months old and are two different breeds,watching them I don't notice one breed picking on the others but don't see any mites or lice. what should I do?

-- David (nelson3@bright.net), June 22, 2000

Answers

David,

I don't know about ducks, but chickens will behave that way if they are over crowded. Good luck..........Mona

-- Mona (jascamp@ipa.net), June 22, 2000.

Ducks eating another dead duck sounds very unusual as meat is not part of their diet. If they are in confinement, are you sure they are getting enough protein in their diet. As the above message indicated, it could also be either stress from crowding or perhaps even boredom. Try separating them my species.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), June 23, 2000.

I had a vicious pecking problem with my pullets when they were about 6 wks. old. My husbands uncle advised more space but I didn't have it ready yet. So I clipped their beaks with fingernail clippers just a little and gave them bone meal for more protein until my husband built their permanent shelter. It took about a week untill the coop was ready. It kept them from hurting each other until then. They have been fine since then. I think it takes about 6 wks. fot the beak to grow back. My book says to clip no more than 1/5 of the beak. More than that can be permanent. Denise

-- Denise (jphammock@earthlink.net), June 23, 2000.

I feel silly. I just re read your post and had forgotten we were talking about ducklings. Forget the part about clipping, but protein and space would still work. Denise

-- Denise (jphammock@earthlink.net), June 23, 2000.

I think I read someplace that if you add a little apple cider vinager to there water it can help but I can't remember for sure and I think it was with chickens. It helps a lot of other things and I don't think it would hurt them.

-- cynthia (chemenway@hotmail.com), June 24, 2000.

David, what are you feeding the ducklings and how big is their pen?? An old old man told me years ago the trick to raising ducklings is to feed them dry dog food soaked in milk and water. they also need copious amounts of water to drink with their food. Hope this helps, I've been raising ducklings for years using the old guys advise with 100% success. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), June 24, 2000.