Chicken boarders

[smokiechicken1969]

hi all

 

i have noticed that my male mallard (older by maybe two months) is starting to get a tiny bit bossy of the aylesbury boy.

 

nothing nasty yet! but ive noticed the mallard is dabbling at the aylesbury when they eat their pellets and has done the same with the water feeder.

 

they love to play with the hose pipe when im cleaning the pond and use to share it nicely but the mallard is hogging it a lot recently.

 

am i the problem?

 

i had the mallard from a couple of days old, if i sit in the garden he's up on my lap in minutes. the aylesbury likes to do the same and they use to sit together and snuggle in to me.

 

but now if the mallard is on my lap and the aylesbury tries to get on he makes a fuss and blocks him.

 

if im stroking the aylesbury the mallard makes a racket and comes over to tug his tail feathers.

 

are they reaching sexual maturity and in the absence of any female ducks trying to compete for my affections?

 

they have not bothered any of the chickens yet.

 

id be devestated if they fell out because they are so funny together.

[smokiechicken1969]

sorry i meant to add this has all started with the very obvious arrival of the aylesburys curly tail feather. coincidence?

[Lesley]

Hmmm - they could just be deciding the pecking order as both are now mature. Just keep an eye on the situation and as long as there is no really nasty fighting or blood drawn then they should just settle down again.

[smokiechicken1969]

hi lesely

 

blood! ahh oh no is that possible with ducks!!

 

i hope it would never get that bad. but of course will keep an eye. they're out there this morning playing and flapping around the pond like best friends again.

 

thank you for the advice as always.

 

the OH said if it gets nasty the aylesbury will be fattened up for xmas.

 

im just packing all of his clothes in a suitcase and flinging it out of the door

[Lesley]

- glad to see you have your priorities right

 

I'm sure they will settle down once they've sorted out who is to be boss.

[Guest]

Hi

 

I had some boys that all grew up together and they all got on fine(as Lesley says probably a pecking order) the semi wild mallards I have acquired 3 boys 1 female(poor girlie) definitely have a rank and file order,.

 

The big mallard is in charge but the female has the most common sense! Not that I am implying anything in this by the way

 

 

indie

[smokiechicken1969]

ahh haha well that goes without saying doesnt it

 

when i watch them out of the window i have never seen the mallard get bossy, but it seems when im about he likes to remind the aylesbury that he's the boss. nothing nasty yet, so hopefully as you and lesley say its just a bit of 'quacking order'.

 

if the either of them go out of sight of each other for a minute they make a right fuss until they find each other again so i hope they stay best friends.