Drake mating/attacking my hens

I have a 5 month old male duck that has been displaying some pretty aggressive behavior lately. I'm not sure if it's part of his mating technique but he's been chasing the hens and pullets, capturing them by seizing their neck and proceeds to yank and shake violently at it. Sometimes he'll do it while giving the appearance of mounting them, other times not. I've never seen him display this sort of violent behavior towards his mate, though. Just with the hens, pullets and one of our cockerels. He nearly killed our poor little Sebright and probably would have if we hadn't stopped him. Oh, and a few weeks ago, we found one of our EEs dead. It was in the middle of the day, we had just seen her walking around fine and then just dead. No injuries or anything. Just dead. We think Earl(the drake)may have possibly broken her neck. That's just a theory, though. But what do you all think? I don't want to keep an aggressive drake that will make my flock miserable. As if life in general doesn't stress chickens out enough and keeps them from laying, I'm sure an abusive duck will definitely decrease their egg production. Do we need to sing Goodbye Earl?

Sounds like Earl is not a good drake to have around. I have heard of very aggressive drakes before, and they usually end up at freezer camp. I hate the thought, but if he's that rough, I don't know what else to recommend. I suppose solitary confinement for life . . . .

Or he might be able to be part of an all male flock. People have those - especially folks who like to see ducks on their pond but don't want eggs dropped here and there.

Goodbye, Earl, before he seriously injures or kills your hens.

Thanks, guys. Question: Will his wife grow lonely without him or will the chickens be company enough for her?

im having the same problem at the moment, i have a male muscovy and he has just started pickin on one of my hens.. just grabbing her neck here and there but she is now scared... im hoping its just whilst he is in mating time??

I have no experience of this but, is it possible for you to free range your chickens and ducks at seperate times?

I think his wife would feel very lonely without a companion (perhaps another female is Earl hits freezer camp?). From watching my own trio, ducks like to be with their own kind.

Mine mix fine with my hens, but if Sir Francis began aggressive behaviour towards my hens, my first instinct would be to free range them at seperate times.

I hope you find a solution which is win-win-win for you, Earl and your hens.

That's a bad drake, you can always find a new drake or another duck to be with yours.

shelley69 said:

im having the same problem at the moment, i have a male muscovy and he has just started pickin on one of my hens.. just grabbing her neck here and there but she is now scared... im hoping its just whilst he is in mating time??

Click to expand...

Forgot to add: Welcome to the forums, shelly69

aww thankyou, still not sure what im doing at the moment lol,

shelly you need to keep your drake away from your chicken hens, if he actually mates with one of them which he could do since he is so much stronger and larger, he could kill them, ducks and chickens are made totally different and a hen cannot take the kind of mating ducks do. He is acting normal just out of control hormones are getting in the way.
you don't have to get rid of him just keep him separate from your chickens.

shelley69 said:

aww thankyou, still not sure what im doing at the moment

lol,

Click to expand...