Daddy Pekin after babies!!!!!

[GreatPyrLover]

So I have three baby pekins

that have hatched under a hen...I have kept them away from mama and daddy duck but the dad is trying his hardest to get to the babies....why is this? Why is he so determined to kill them?

He does ok with my little bantam chicks, but its like somehow he knows they are ducklings...which amazes me that he would be that smart

Poor mama hen is trying to beat the mess out of him when he comes around but it doesnt stop him...(no worries I have mama and babies where he cant get to them) Does he really see these babies as competition already????

 

[Apyl]

I believe he's trying to make it clear he is top dog. Know what I mean. I would just keep doing as you are and keep them away from him or him away from them until they are older. Hopefulyl he'll get use to them being around and stop the show fo dominiance. Good luck.

 

[GreatPyrLover]

Thanks!!

 

[CorinneP]

Good Luck .. I am glad you have them seperated .

 

[jak2002003]

I noticed this with my ducks. It is very strange, but the drakes can be really nasty to the ducklings and mine would try to kill them. I was lucks as my ducks went broody and hatched out their own eggs. They were good at keeping the ducklings away from the drakes.

Also other females will attack any duckling that is not her own. The real problem started when the ducklings were nearly full grown and mum left them to fend for themselves. Then the 2 drakes would constantly chase and bite them and the poor things spend most of the time hiding under bushes around the pond. I think the drakes are trying to drive them away from their territory, and also trying to mate with the young females - who don't want it at that age!!!!

Eventually they all got on as they got larger and could defend themselves.

Keep them apart - and then introduce the babies to the duck only and keep the drake out of the group for a few days until the girls are all happy together.

Good luck.

 

[jessiduck]

He is making his presence known....he knows he is alpha male and he intends to keep it that way!

I'm glad that you moved Mama and the babies away from him for now until he can accept them as a new addition to the pack!

My best wishes to you and your duckies!

 

[GreatPyrLover]

Thanks!!! I definitely have them seperated....I couldnt imagine he getting to those babies....Mom and babies are kept locked up if he is out and vice versa....it just crazy that he is out to kill them....if he is smart enough to see that they are ducks then why isnt he smart enough to see they are just babies

The mom duck doesnt act like she cares anything about them...she just follows the dad around like a lost puppy and does whatever he tells her to do...they have a crazy relationship!!!! Cant teach her anything.

Here is a pic of mama hen and babies....they are so stinking cute....she is a good mom for it to be her first time and she is three years old....

 

[jessiduck]

Men rule the relationships in the animal world! The females don't have much of a say! The males don't rationalize like we do in thinking that they could kill the babies. They see them as one thing, female-attention-getting-fuzzballs!
I wish it wasn't so!
You're doing the right thing!!!! I love your pictures!

Thanks!!! I definitely have them seperated....I couldnt imagine he getting to those babies....Mom and babies are kept locked up if he is out and vice versa....it just crazy that he is out to kill them....if he is smart enough to see that they are ducks then why isnt he smart enough to see they are just babies

The mom duck doesnt act like she cares anything about them...she just follows the dad around like a lost puppy and does whatever he tells her to do...they have a crazy relationship!!!! Cant teach her anything.

Here is a pic of mama hen and babies....they are so stinking cute....she is a good mom for it to be her first time and she is three years old....

 

[WillsC]

Granted my ducks are Muscovies but the drake is great with the ducklings, pretty much just ignores them. The other ducks give them a pinch here and there though.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks!!! I definitely have them seperated....I couldnt imagine he getting to those babies....Mom and babies are kept locked up if he is out and vice versa....it just crazy that he is out to kill them....if he is smart enough to see that they are ducks then why isnt he smart enough to see they are just babies

The mom duck doesnt act like she cares anything about them...she just follows the dad around like a lost puppy and does whatever he tells her to do...they have a crazy relationship!!!! Cant teach her anything.

Here is a pic of mama hen and babies....they are so stinking cute....she is a good mom for it to be her first time and she is three years old....

If your hen hatched out these ducklings then neither your drake nor your duck see them as theirs. mama duck has to hatch and bond with her ducklings.