call drakes - pecking order and testosterone....

Ok, I have two call drakes - one of them is definately the bottom duckie in the pond. The poor guy is being mauled (not injured, but roughed up so badly his feathers will have to grow back after he molts.)

I now have him and his lady seperated to their own coop, but I was wondering if the agression is just because it is breeding season and if this will stop once they go back to "normal" and aren't mating.
Or, will I have an on-going problem and I need to find a new home for the pair with the roughed up boy?

I really like that pair, they're the only calls I have names for, so far. But, I like the looks of the others, too, and the drake is definately more "breeding" oriented. The more passive drake hasn't even tried to mate with his girl. On the other hand, the blue drake, the more "manly" one, has mated with anything that can't escape him and happens to be a duck (even the roughed up drake's female).

I don't expect to get any babies out of the pair this year, but I figured if I could get him back into "wooing" shape, then maybe next spring I can make sure to seperate them before this happens again.

I'm sort of new to ducks in general, and never even saw a Call Duck until I got the first pair a month or so ago.

thanks -
meri

 

Quote:Thanks, I was hoping that might be the case, cause I really like the splash pair, and I don't want to have to find a new home for them.

I can deal with seperating them, I have enough coops, and can alternate days for them to free range, if necesary. I tried that, but due to other factors, it didn't work out this time, next time, however, I can perhaps control it better. This time it didn't work because I have this pullet who wants to hang with the pair - and not the other chickens, and if I let her out, everyone sneaks out, so I have the same mess as before

The pullet is a new addition, also. I had brooded her for a friend (and spoiled her rotten) so when my friend needed a new home for her (got out of chickens) I took her back, cause she's such a love bug. She is, however, intimidated by the other chickens, who have all been together for over a year. I figure if I freerange them together, then she'll lose her fear of them eventually.

But, with the splash drake in such rough shape I think they're (the pair) better off just staying in for awhile til he gets back to "escape" shape.

thanks -
meri