do drakes ever drown ducks?

[hennyjenn]

We rehomed our two rouens. At their new digs, they share a large house and a smallish pond with two magpies and 5 call ducks. We went to visit them a week or so after they moved, and saw our old drake continually climbing upon the female magpie and holding her underwater for what seemed like a very long time. The new owner said she had never seen him do that. While he was doing it, "his" duck and the magpie drake were pecking at him, apparently trying to get him off. I would feel awful if he drowns her, or is this just normal? The rouens are so much bigger than the magpies...

 

[sandcat]

My drake and ducks mate in the pond, the drake bites her neck and looks like he is trying to hold her under the water. I wonder if what you are seeing is a dominance thing. Our Drake used to jump onto a wild Drake that was tagging along with our wee flock and attack it by biting its neck and completlety covering its body with his!!!! The wild one has since left and i did think at the time that my drake was asserting himself.

 

[hennyjenn]

I thought it was a little over zealous for love making.

But why would he be asserting his dominance over her rather than the other drake? Or maybe he is just working his way up the chain?

 

[desertdarlene]

I know wild ducks do that when they're mating for what might look like a long time. It's worse when several drakes are trying to mate her. I hope the new owners break it off if it goes on for more than a minute or so or if the female shows distress.

It's possible he's trying to find his spot in the flock.

 

[FenDruadin]

The short answer to your topic heading is "yes."

The longer answer is that he probably remembered you and was showing off. In less anthropomorphic terms, my guess is that he remembered you as the flock leader of his former flock and he was demonstrating his power in the new flock. Why not the other male? He probably didn't want to actually pick a fight--he just wanted you to see how important and special he is now.

If the behavior persists when you're not around, especially if it gets worse, then it's probably a concern and should be addressed. Hens are most often drowned when there are multiple males competing for too few females, and the males get overzealous and hold them down for too long. It *is* normal and not worrisome when they push their heads under the water for a little while--ducks can hold their breath a really long time. But if her male to female ratio is too high, she may be in for trouble.

Hope it all works out well.

 

[okie74447]

i don't know some times i wonder if there going to drown i was watching my anconas and the drake was looking like he was about to drown my favorite girl i have never found one in the water dead yet i sure hope i never do.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Yes they will...It is part of mating, but I have a friend who has lg. males and they will get on top of the younger females sometimes to mate them and sometimes they will not pop back up...it has only happened twice, but it has happened. Most of the time, the female is quite capable of holding her breath and surviving just fine during this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

when I first saw our muscovies mating I thought for sure he was going to drown her, it's been 6 years now and their all still here. I wanted to intervene at first but realized it was just the way ducks are, I have heard that wild mallards will drown a hen because so many are trying to mount her. Sad

 

[maggiemmm]

When my stupid drake Muskovy finishes with Darkwing he heads for me -- I don't remember HOW many times I have sat on him and held his head down for 5 minutes .. to teach him that I am the frickin Alpha duck and he is a pin head! I actually think that we will eat him come December. I am tired of getting bitten when trying to change water and feed dishes. He used to be such a sweet duck . I should rename him to Cujo AKA Stephen King ! I did get a couple of other ducks - an Indian Runner and a Pekin Mallard cross - but they like each other . He does not even look at them. Darkwing needs a break ...AND after the first of December - she will get one. He goes into the freezer.

 

[afeatherfan]

I have 6 hens and 1 drake and if he gets over zealous he will die ..I dont put up with it. I think that it is sad when you got a few drakes and they are all on 1 hen . That is just me.