THE SEASON OF THE DUCK

The fighting, squabbling and name calling ( not positive, but sounds like it) has been going on far too long.  I keep thinking today is the day that the fighting stops.  But each day starts the same. I arrive to open up the coop and the fusing, fuming and yelling grows louder as I approach, they know the door will open and the fighting will commence.

This is the same routine each day with polite grazing, ugly looks, snide comments spewed, then the clash of two to three ducks running at each other yelling at the top of their lungs,  jumping on and beating each other.  I step in as quickly as I can, usually my hands are full with cleaning duties.  They break up and basically go to their separate corners, huffing and puffing. I think I am really just the referee that calls time and sends them to their appointed corners to get ready for the next round.

This is our daily experience, morning and night.  When they are in their coop they stand and yell at each other, breaking only for food, water and a nap.  Here is a video of their conversation.

Notice the boys, the Apple Dumpling gang, on the left are not interested in this discussion (smart boys). They have the good sense to walk away.  Now Little Dude is still conflicted. He walks away, but comes back, he paces back and forth.  He feels he is the protector of all the girls, though Phoebe and Buffy keep trying to kill him. 

Here is another video of Phoebe, Buffy and Oma going at it through the fence. I think the girls were name calling, as Oma and Dude were heading in, causing Oma to attack. Because of this, I  bought more chicken wire to stop this at the chain link fence. Now, I am protecting them from each other!?

The girls, Phoebe and Buffy, are beating on Little Dude as often as they can. Thankfully Oma comes to his aid.  He is smaller than all the ducks.  Phoebe especially has a real desire to kill him (I'll be glad when she is done molting).  She has taken every opportunity to get him a lone and beat on the boy.  She usually waits until my back is turned and Oma is not close at hand.  She hits Dude running full speed knocking him down, but the boy keeps fighting back hoping to get the upper hand. Oma breaks it up or Blinkin or myself or all of us at one time.

Today, Phoebe waited until I turned my back. Dude was in the pool, Phoebe took a run at him thinking she could drown the boy.  WRONG-O!  Dude managed to pull Phoebe into the pool. Phoebe and Buffy do not like the kiddie pool, they cannot touch the bottom with their feet.  Phoebe is in the water with Dude, the fight is on!  However, Dude gains the upper hand, with Phoebe trying desperately now to get out of the pool while still beating on Dude. She wants out more than beat on Dude while trying to hop out of the pool, Dude manages to get a tight grip on her feathers at the base of her neck holding on while she pulls them both out of the water. He keeps his hold on her while she is trying to get away from him. Finally he lets her go. Little Dude is at last triumphant in winning the battle with Phoebe.  He has finally won the respect of Phoebe.

Phoebe, so mad about her defeat marches over to the fence where the boys are, proceeds to attack them. Now the boys are inside, but they got a hold of her too. She had enough and fled. Little Dude marches over to the same fence confronting the boys for their treatment of Phoebe. He nearly gets himself beat into the ground, before I can intervene.

Little Dude, the protector of the girls.