Drake becoming agressive

[Critter Castle]

Hello everyone. I've just joined and am looking for advise. I have a Cayuga drake who is about six months old. He is starting to become aggressive. I got a drake because they're quieter than the females. I realize at his age he is sexually mature now, and the time of year is probably breeding season. It was cute at first, mostly because the first thing he started attacking was my dog...a 130 pound Great Dane. Its hilarious to watch my huge dog run from this duck. But now he's started attacking a couple of my chickens. I can tell by the way he's grabbing them he's trying to breed, he tries to grab them by the neck. I have five hens. Three Americaunas, and two black bantams of unknown breed. Its only the bantams he's going after. I have to assume its because they're black like he is. Up until now, he was the one running from them, as they're the oldest of the flock and ruled the roost. Because they're bantams, they're much smaller than he is and now are afraid to stay on the ground. One has a hurt leg. Will this behavior pass as the season does? Do I need to pen him up for good? Would getting him a girl make him better or worse? I used to have a Pekin drake several years ago and don't remember having this problem with him. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I love my duck, but don't want the other animals hurt by him.

Thanks,
Shelly

 

[b.hromada]

No, that behavior won't pass. I've got a pekin drake, and some kind of crested drake. I love them both. I only have 1 pekin female. Those darn drakes would always go after my chickens, like you say, by the neck, and pull out their feathers! I've had to separate the drakes from my one female duck and my hens as well. I was told that I needed to get rid of one drake, or get a few more females. Well, like you say, the males are much quieter, so more females is out of the question for me. I just have to keep them separated. Good luck, I know they can be such a pain, but you really gotta love 'em, they are to darn cute.

 

[Critter Castle]

Thank you for the reply. I kind of figured this was going to be a mostly permanent thing. I put up a low fence today across the part of my yard that has his little pond. The chickens can hop the fence easily enough, which the three Americaunas do, but of course not the bantams. They know they'll get chased. What I might do is let him out at night after the chickens go into their coop so he can have run of the yard as usual. Then, in the morning put him back in before I let them out. Ducks usually adapt well to a routine, so after a couple of days he should learn the schedule and be okay. Does anyone think I should get him a female? Would it make him more content if he had a mate?