Aggressive drake

[allanas]

Hi everyone
I am new to the group. I have a mixed group of ducks. 3 mallards (1 drake 2 ducks), 4 Appleyards (juvenilles) (1 drake and 3 ducks), 3 pekins (juvenille) (1 drake and 2 ducks) and 2 magpie (both duck). I know, a weird mix. But I kind of got some of them recently due to they needed a home. My drake mallard, Darryl, is kind of brat anyway and will chase some of the girls and bite off their tail feathers but just yesterday he chased one of my female appleyards and got her on her back. He injured her foot and wing. We had to rescue the poor thing. Now I am afraid to let him out with the others. (He's now grounded and staying in the duck pen). Bad Darryl! He was never aggressive with the female mallards before. But now is a total jerk to the others. And I think the drake pekin and drake appleyard are so calm as they are only about 4 months old. What should I do? I'm thinking Darryl needs a new home......

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC - sorry for the circumstances. His aggression towards the 'strangers' is a bit over the top, but not all that unusual. Allow the new birds to integrate in the flock for a matter of weeks while he stays in isolation. Monitor him upon return to the flock and make a decision then.

 

[allanas]

Thank you so much for the advice. He is a little brat but I just love him. He likes to follow me around and be held on his own terms. lol I would hate to have to get rid of him. Let's cross our fingers and hope he learns to behave.