Cayuga drakes

[Kathy farms]

I'm brand new to this forum and I'm a bit late in giving information, but I have a group of Cayuga ducks (two hens, one drake plus one Indian runner hen). We recently acquired three magpie ducklings, one hen, two drakes. They are about three months old now. They've been in their own large outdoor pen where the adult ducks can see/meet them for over a month. We decided to integrate them and things did not go well. Mulder, the Cayuga drake, relentlessly raped Lenore, the magpie hen, at every opportunity. Her brothers tried to intervene, but really they're no match for him. I had hoped that he'd mellow out after a couple days, but he's just gotten worse. He really tore her up so we removed the ducklings from the adult pen and put them back in their own pen. He has three hens who bob their heads at him, but he ignored them and focused all his rapey energy on poor Lenore. I've had it with him and even though he's stunning, he might end up dinner.
I've only experienced the one Cayuga drake, but I'm not impressed with his personality at all.

Your Cayuga is only been the drake that he is. Take it easy on him

 

[Conan]

True enough. I'm just not in the market for drakes other than one per four or so hens so I'd rather have one that isn't aggressive towards duckings. He really is a beautiful specimen (purple, beetle green fellow) but he's really kind of a jerk. I don't mind feather pulling, but he bloodied her badly and she's more valuable to me as an egg layer than he'll ever be for being pretty.

 

[Kathy farms]

True enough. I'm just not in the market for drakes other than one per four or so hens so I'd rather have one that isn't aggressive towards duckings. He really is a beautiful specimen (purple, beetle green fellow) but he's really kind of a jerk. I don't mind feather pulling, but he bloodied her badly and she's more valuable to me as an egg layer than he'll ever be for being pretty.

Perhaps you can consider separating them for some days. You gonna miss him when he's gone.

 

[needlessjunk]

True enough. I'm just not in the market for drakes other than one per four or so hens so I'd rather have one that isn't aggressive towards duckings. He really is a beautiful specimen (purple, beetle green fellow) but he's really kind of a jerk. I don't mind feather pulling, but he bloodied her badly and she's more valuable to me as an egg layer than he'll ever be for being pretty.

I'm starting to change my option on drakes, at first I was thinking that they are just boys and it's what they do. But then you hear about nice drakes all year so why do we keep the ones that turn nasty? Kinda like roosters... No one keeps a nasty rooster and you really don't want to pass along aggressive drakes. I'm starting to think that nasty drakes would be better off ending the line then just keeping them because they are pretty.

 

[Conan]

Perhaps you can consider separating them for some days. You gonna miss him when he's gone.

I think I'll try that first. I have a couple large fenced areas I can put him in, but he loses his mind when he's separated from his ladies. They ditch him sometimes and he freaks out. He's also still aggressively attacking the duckling pen multiple times a day. Luckily he can't get in there. I'd really like to integrate the ducks though as I have another set of ducklings coming soon (his babies hatched out by a friend's broody chicken) and I need the duckling pen to be available.

 

[Kathy farms]

I think I'll try that first. I have a couple large fenced areas I can put him in, but he loses his mind when he's separated from his ladies. They ditch him sometimes and he freaks out. He's also still aggressively attacking the duckling pen multiple times a day. Luckily he can't get in there. I'd really like to integrate the ducks though as I have another set of ducklings coming soon (his babies hatched out by a friend's broody chicken) and I need the duckling pen to be available.

Well, that's a more liberal option to consider first. I suspect his aggression is his way of asserting dominance over the flock, especially if there are other matured males around. If after his alone time and it is still the same, then perhaps a more aggressive option would have to be considered, including re-homing him or you let him visit the oven for a roast if you're into that.

 

[Conan]

Well, that's a more liberal option to consider first. I suspect his aggression is his way of asserting dominance over the flock, especially if there are other matured males around. If after his alone time and it is still the same, then perhaps a more aggressive option would have to be considered, including re-homing him or you let him visit the oven for a roast if you're into that.  

I'm not really that excited about roasting him. I'm not particularly into raising critters to kill. I like the bug control and the eggs much better than butchering! It's odd because he is not the leader of the flock. Flojo, my runner hen, is and maybe that drives him crazy. There are no mature males around other than him. I'm wanting to exhaust all options before considering the roasting pan.

 

[Kathy farms]

I'm not really that excited about roasting him. I'm not particularly into raising critters to kill. I like the bug control and the eggs much better than butchering! It's odd because he is not the leader of the flock. Flojo, my runner hen, is and maybe that drives him crazy. There are no mature males around other than him. I'm wanting to exhaust all options before considering the roasting pan.

Then it's likely the dominance issue mixed with crazy hormonal surge. Let's see if the isolation works on him then.

 

[SFDucks]

...would like to start breeding Cayugas to sell...

I'd rather not be put in that position since I don't enjoy killing things.

This does not sound like a good match to me. You're going to end up with a lot of drakes if you are breeding ducks and sooner or later you are probably going to have to deal with this unpleasantness.

 

[Conan]

Then it's likely the dominance issue mixed with crazy hormonal surge. Let's see if the isolation works on him then.

The isolation therapy will start this weekend. While he's isolated, I'll integrate the magpie ducklings. Do you have any suggestions as to how long he should remain in isolation? I hope it works. He really is sweet to people. Once you catch him, he calms immediately and never scratches or struggles. He mellows out and just chills. It's just his aggression towards Lenore that I'm worried about.