A little duck help....

[Tabitha31]

So I decided to add a couple of ducks to my backyard flock. I got 2 as babies but one died early. That left my cayuga to be raised alone. He befriended the dog and follows her around, but recently it seems he is trying to mate the dog. I just went an got a female pekin duck to add to his "flock" but he is still aggressively trying to mate the dog.... and sometimes me I am not sure he knows he is a duck. The female has only been here a couple of days. Will he eventually take up with her? How do I discourage this behavior? Please help.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Ducks are very sexual. They will mate anything. Even the females. You just have to go with the flow. Good thing my wellies can't get pregnant.

 

[Tabitha31]

Ducks are very sexual. They will mate anything. Even the females. You just have to go with the flow. Good thing my wellies can't get pregnant.

Thank you for the response. My poor Elle Mae is not sure how to deal with the duck trying to jump on her back. So far she has been very tolerant. I did hope there was some way to divert his unwanted attentions.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Nope, he will mate anything.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

my ducks are all imprinted on humans as well. my boys will come up and start bobbing their heads at me, a family member, or even the cat. just redirect the attention with treats, cuddles, toys, etc.

 

[LT71689]

If you’re sure he’s a boy you’ll want to add a handful more girls for him. Once he figures out that he’s supposed to mate with the girl you got him, he could become too aggressive with her and hurt her if she’s not offered relief by a couple other ducks

 

[Tabitha31]

Pretty sure its a boy based on his voice and curly tail feather. The hubby does not want any more feathered friends but maybe I can sneak a couple more girls into the coop Thanks for all the responses it was very helpful.

 

[Tabitha31]

my ducks are all imprinted on humans as well. my boys will come up and start bobbing their heads at me, a family member, or even the cat. just redirect the attention with treats, cuddles, toys, etc.

I thought the head bobbing just said they were happy I didn't realize it was a mating call. He is quite expressive and "talks" to us a lot. I've really enjoyed him, but am worried the dog will hurt him when she gets tired of his attentions. Do they go into season or is this a normal every day thing?

 

[LT71689]

I thought the head bobbing just said they were happy I didn't realize it was a mating call. He is quite expressive and "talks" to us a lot. I've really enjoyed him, but am worried the dog will hurt him when she gets tired of his attentions. Do they go into season or is this a normal every day thing? View attachment 2313235

Little bit of both - this is his first year? It’ll be his worst - he’s essentially a teenage boy figuring out sex for the first time, everything and anything is going to excite him. Age may (or may not) calm him. But they also go into “season”

getting him some more girls would be really beneficial to everybody - him, your existing girl, your dog, you. Occasionally people find their ducks do “bonding pairs” and the male is happy with only one and doesnt over-mate her, but more commonly if there’s not enough girls, the ones that are there really have it rough and you’ll be spending a lot of time keeping an eye on them and separating them to give her a break (which will upset them likely since there’s only the two of them)

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I thought the head bobbing just said they were happy I didn't realize it was a mating call. He is quite expressive and "talks" to us a lot. I've really enjoyed him, but am worried the dog will hurt him when she gets tired of his attentions. Do they go into season or is this a normal every day thing? View attachment 2313235

slows down in the fall. the first two years are the worst then it’ll start to get better