Advice on drake jail please!

[Quackattack717]

So we’ve decided to put our drake in “drake jail”....we feel bad but our girls are all missing hair on their neck/back of their head and one of them it’s down to the skin and she was raw and bloodly. Poor girl. That was our deciding factor. Our drake isn’t like crazy with the mating, but he is VERY rough with the head holding and he freaking pecks at their faces. We hate the mating but we love him. He’s one of a kind and we don’t want to have to get rid (or kill him). He spent most of today in the coop, tomorrow we are going to block off part of the enclosure for him. I was just hoping people could give me some advice on drake jail. I feel like we’ll have to keep him separate for awhile, at least until the girls all heal up, not sure if their hair will grow back anytime soon. But I wasn’t sure how free ranging and all that would work. Does he just not get to do anything? I know he is just a duck, I just feel bad doing that to him but my girls need a break and they aren’t going to get it with him around!
Anything you can tell me will be helpful! Thank you!

 

[Isaac 0]

@thumper650 May be able to help.

 

[DuckyDonna]

I think I may be able to help too. Last spring I had 1 little drake to 6 girls and that one guy picked all their necks clean and bloody. So I had to do drake jail. I built a little divider for the night pen so he could see everyone but not touch then I had him in his own run all day long when he'd run the fence line all day long and so would the girls on the other side. This went on for about a week and I felt so bad and awful for him.

So, I decided to try something else since everyone was so miserable. I put his bestest girl buddy in with him. Night and day they were together. Problem solved. He was happy, the buddy was happy and he didn't abuse her at all. Everything was good in the kingdom.

This is my little divider for inside the pen. It's pretty simple to make. The walls of the barn aren't square but it did the job just the same. Sambo and Dilly stayed in the back and the other girls stayed up front.

 

[thumper650]

@DuckyDonna has it! I was thinking as long as he can see his friends, it’s ok. Ducks hate being alone. I use dog pens like this one when they’re out of the run, they’re not that expensive, and easy to rearrange. I paid $30 each on Chewy.com

They’ll fight through the fence, then calm down, then someone will start quacking and things escalate. They can’t really damage each other though. These are all drakes in the picture.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you decide to leave a female with him you'll have to really watch he doesn't abuse her boy those Muscovy claws are nothing like other domestic ducks nails. Maybe try letting him out at a different time than the girls too that way he can bath and have some freedom.

 

[Quackattack717]

I think I may be able to help too. Last spring I had 1 little drake to 6 girls and that one guy picked all their necks clean and bloody. So I had to do drake jail. I built a little divider for the night pen so he could see everyone but not touch then I had him in his own run all day long when he'd run the fence line all day long and so would the girls on the other side. This went on for about a week and I felt so bad and awful for him.

So, I decided to try something else since everyone was so miserable. I put his bestest girl buddy in with him. Night and day they were together. Problem solved. He was happy, the buddy was happy and he didn't abuse her at all. Everything was good in the kingdom.

This is my little divider for inside the pen. It's pretty simple to make. The walls of the barn aren't square but it did the job just the same. Sambo and Dilly stayed in the back and the other girls stayed up front.
View attachment 2098049

I will keep that in mind, none of the girls seem to mind him being locked up. I honestly think they enjoy the break. His main girl Khaleesi, who he was raised with from a duckling would be the girl to go in with him, BUT it wasn’t too long ago before we purchased two more muscovies that he was over mating her so I’m not sure that will work for me. I blocked his area off this morning so he’s out of the coop and has his own food and water. We’ll see how this goes, the girls are already thankful they aren’t being chased and held down.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’m sure they are enjoying their break. My girls love their drake which I’m sure yours do too. But my guy has mellowed some what he’ll be 9 yrs in first of June. Notice I said somewhat

 

[Quackattack717]

If you decide to leave a female with him you'll have to really watch he doesn't abuse her boy those Muscovy claws are nothing like other domestic ducks nails. Maybe try letting him out at a different time than the girls too that way he can bath and have some freedom.

I don’t think we’re going to put a female in with him, he would over mate her for sure. I’m going to give it a week or two and let the girls heal and then we’ll reevaluate! I think that’s what we’ll have to do for free range time! We may let everyone out to free range, and then let him out into the whole enclosure with fresh pool water so he can bathe and fly up on his perch for a little. We’ll have to play it by ear, I feel so bad for him, but I feel worse for the girls. My poor mallard who is teeny tiny compared to him seems to be one of his favorites right now and she’s all bald on the back of her head.

 

[Quackattack717]

Welcome to drake jail Arthas! I’m glad it wasn’t too difficult to section this part off, and now I plan to use this if anyone ever has an injury and needs to recuperate without their friends around! Although the chickens are helping themselves in and out of drake jail! Hahah!

 

[Quackattack717]

Is this safe to use on the girls necks to help them heal?