Hi Everyone,
I am hoping for some advise in regards to our Drake's aggression towards our 5 week old ducklings.
We have 3 adult Runner Hens and 1 Runner Drake. The dominant female successfully hatched 10 ducklings (and we kept 4 of them). Initially, our Drake didn't seem to be too aggressive with them, but we did end up having to separate him from the hens because he kept trying to mate and we were concerned that he would harm the ducklings (all 3 females went broody and we're laying on the same nest).
The ducklings are now 5 weeks old, and we have let them and the females out of the temporary pen to free range again with the Drake (they all normally free range). We noticed that he initially would chase the ducklings off in short spurts. But didn't seem to be harming them. But in the last week, he has started to show more aggression, constantly trying to chase them away from the adult group. He recently injured two of them by plucking out their back feathers.
So now we have permanently separated the ducklings and dominant female from him as they are scared and he is just too aggressive. He still stays by them outside the fence with the other two adult females, and I will let all of them out together for short periods if I am with them (as he still chases but is more cautious).
We have separated him from all of them at different points and he paces and is super anxious inside the pen (unless at least one female stays with him).
The 4 adults are siblings and bonded. I don't want to get rid of our Drake. And understand that some of his behavior can be typical of the male. But I would like some advise on how to train him to be less aggressive, or to get him to accept the ducklings (if that is even possible). Or if anyone has successfully introduced ducklings into a flock with a Drake.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
I am hoping for some advise in regards to our Drake's aggression towards our 5 week old ducklings.
We have 3 adult Runner Hens and 1 Runner Drake. The dominant female successfully hatched 10 ducklings (and we kept 4 of them). Initially, our Drake didn't seem to be too aggressive with them, but we did end up having to separate him from the hens because he kept trying to mate and we were concerned that he would harm the ducklings (all 3 females went broody and we're laying on the same nest).
The ducklings are now 5 weeks old, and we have let them and the females out of the temporary pen to free range again with the Drake (they all normally free range). We noticed that he initially would chase the ducklings off in short spurts. But didn't seem to be harming them. But in the last week, he has started to show more aggression, constantly trying to chase them away from the adult group. He recently injured two of them by plucking out their back feathers.
So now we have permanently separated the ducklings and dominant female from him as they are scared and he is just too aggressive. He still stays by them outside the fence with the other two adult females, and I will let all of them out together for short periods if I am with them (as he still chases but is more cautious).
We have separated him from all of them at different points and he paces and is super anxious inside the pen (unless at least one female stays with him).
The 4 adults are siblings and bonded. I don't want to get rid of our Drake. And understand that some of his behavior can be typical of the male. But I would like some advise on how to train him to be less aggressive, or to get him to accept the ducklings (if that is even possible). Or if anyone has successfully introduced ducklings into a flock with a Drake.
Thanks in advance for your advice!