Drake attacking nesting hen

[barrieh]

Hi

I have 2 drakes and 4 hens (Mallard ducks), who all live in a wild (not enclosed) pond. One of the hens has a nest and sits on eggs all day for the last three weeks, so I imagine chicks are due soon. The father is very attentive. The other drake violently attacks the nesting hen whenever she leaves her nest. He chases her and has pulled out many of her feathers o the extent she is almost bald under her wings. As soon as she returns to the nest he ignores her.

I am worried that this drake will kill her and/or her chicks.

Does anyone know if this behaviour is likely to change? My only option would be to catch the aggressive drake and rehouse him as they are not penned, so separation is not an option. Or, will this behaviour change when the chicks come?

They have all lived completely harmoniously for the last year until now.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I would separate him. I wouldn’t trust him with the new ducklings. And the mama duck must be really stressed. Does she even get to eat?

 

[Aapomp831]

He’s not “attacking” her, he’s just excited to see her now that she’s finally out of the nesting box and wants to mate. As far as how to change the behavior, I would enclose the broody somehow so she can have access to outside for pooping everyday but nobody can get to her. You’ll need her separated once the ducklings hatch anyway....

 

[barrieh]

He’s not “attacking” her, he’s just excited to see her now that she’s finally out of the nesting box and wants to mate. As far as how to change the behavior, I would enclose the broody somehow so she can have access to outside for pooping everyday but nobody can get to her. You’ll need her separated once the ducklings hatch anyway....

HI - thanks for the reply. Do you think its that he wants to mate? He is not pursuing the other hens at all (the husband drake is), and his attacks are quite violent in that he pulls out her feathers under her wings (vs trying to mount her). Also, I have not had chicks yet, so was not aware that I would need to separate them from the flock - please elaborate...

 

[barrieh]

I would separate him. I wouldn’t trust him with the new ducklings. And the mama duck must be really stressed. Does she even get to eat?

Hi - thank you for the reply. She is very stressed and I think only gets a chance to eat when I am there to keep the peace. Do you think the behaviour will change in the future or do I need to rehouse him (its an open pond so I have little way to separate them)

 

[Aapomp831]

HI - thanks for the reply. Do you think its that he wants to mate? He is not pursuing the other hens at all (the husband drake is), and his attacks are quite violent in that he pulls out her feathers under her wings (vs trying to mount her). Also, I have not had chicks yet, so was not aware that I would need to separate them from the flock - please elaborate...

I only have experience with chickens, so in my experience with roosters I have noticed them get overly excited when a broody comes... but if your drake is being overly violent he may be trying to re establish dominance, and it may be that since your hen is broody and only interested in eating drinking and pooping so she can get back to her nest and isn’t being submissive he’s trying to force her. I’m thinking maybe you should separate him for a little bit.... I hope someone is it’s more duck experience replies but I’m not sure who to tag....

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Hi - thank you for the reply. She is very stressed and I think only gets a chance to eat when I am there to keep the peace. Do you think the behaviour will change in the future or do I need to rehouse him (its an open pond so I have little way to separate them)

I have no way to predict if he will ever change back to the way he was, but it doesn’t matter. You have to protect your hen and ducklings. He is a danger to them.
It may have to do with the hen and her ducklings belonging to the other male. Males can get this way, in all animal species.
If these were my ducks, he’d be gone yesterday.

Let’s tag @Isaac 0, he knows more about ducks than I do.

 

[barrieh]

I have no way to predict if he will ever change back to the way he was, but it doesn’t matter. You have to protect your hen and ducklings. He is a danger to them.
It may have to do with the hen and her ducklings belonging to the other male. Males can get this way, in all animal species.
If these were my ducks, he’d be gone yesterday.

Let’s tag @Isaac 0, he knows more about ducks than I do.

Thank you again. I have managed to isolate her and her nest, so she is safe for now as the others cannot get to her. I guess I have to accept that he must go as I imagine that there is no reason this behaviour will change and that he will just take it out on her and the ducklings when he can. Thanks for much for the advice.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thank you again. I have managed to isolate her and her nest, so she is safe for now as the others cannot get to her. I guess I have to accept that he must go as I imagine that there is no reason this behaviour will change and that he will just take it out on her and the ducklings when he can. Thanks for much for the advice.

My Drake Mallard was always at it's mates side. I trusted him and he drowned the first baby duckling she had. I separated them and she got stressed out without him and left the nest. I ended up hatching two and am working on two more of the eggs with a joke of a home made incubator. I would never trust a Drake again no matter how attentive and loving he is to his mate. He only has one thing on his mind during breeding season and that is to get rid of the offspring so he can mate again. Mine could have done a commercial for viagra and made a fortune off of it, lol.

 

[Sherrys zoo]

Hi

I have 2 drakes and 4 hens (Mallard ducks), who all live in a wild (not enclosed) pond. One of the hens has a nest and sits on eggs all day for the last three weeks, so I imagine chicks are due soon. The father is very attentive. The other drake violently attacks the nesting hen whenever she leaves her nest. He chases her and has pulled out many of her feathers o the extent she is almost bald under her wings. As soon as she returns to the nest he ignores her.

I am worried that this drake will kill her and/or her chicks.

Does anyone know if this behaviour is likely to change? My only option would be to catch the aggressive drake and rehouse him as they are not penned, so separation is not an option. Or, will this behaviour change when the chicks come?

They have all lived completely harmoniously for the last year until now.

Thank you for your advice.

CHICKS WILL BE IN DANGER - REMOVE OFFENDER