- Mar 12, 2017
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So, I have three drakes and three hens, and to get this out of the way, I know that's not an ideal number, but it's what I ended up with (and I'm actually getting more girls in about a month). My current girls are not showing any signs of being over-mated and seem quite happy. They are about 15 months old.
The boys were fine until mating season, of course, but one of my drakes started getting bullied to the point that he had a hurt leg and was scared to go into the pen with the gang, so he's ended up living on my porch for the last few months. He has plenty of space, but obviously, that's not the permanent setup. I'm working on building a little side pen next to my main duck house for either him or the other two boys to live solo, but life has kind of gotten in the way and delayed that. He and I have really bonded during this time, and he's super sweet to me (as are my other boys) and he likes my cats and dog.
Well, back in mid-May, one of my hens had an infection in her foot, so I brought her inside to treat that. She was on the porch with him but separated so they could see and not touch. The drake was so happy to have a friend. I finally got her healed up about a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't taken her back outside yet. I know he's enjoying having her, but she is beyond ready to go back outside. Throws a fuss every time I open the door. I haven't put her back out because 1) I feel bad leaving him alone again 2) I was having a predator issue with my chickens and didn't want to send anyone else out to it, but it's been resolved 3) I wanted to be sure her foot was healed, which it is as best I can tell.
Over the last few days, when I go out on the porch, though, the drake has started putting his head down and running towards me like he's going to go after me if I turn my back on him. If I turn around or say something to him, he stops. And it's like he's only half-heartedly doing it and doesn't really want to. But this is very new as he's always been soooo sweet. And none of my other boys do it when I'm with them. Is it because he's trying to protect her? I was picking her up a few times a day and taking her in for antibiotics and foot soaks. If I put her outside, will he stop this most likely? And would I be a huge jerk for putting her back out and leaving him alone again for a few more weeks (he should be going back out in July if all goes accordingly)? I don't want him to get depressed, but I'm not going to reward him for being a jerk either.
The boys were fine until mating season, of course, but one of my drakes started getting bullied to the point that he had a hurt leg and was scared to go into the pen with the gang, so he's ended up living on my porch for the last few months. He has plenty of space, but obviously, that's not the permanent setup. I'm working on building a little side pen next to my main duck house for either him or the other two boys to live solo, but life has kind of gotten in the way and delayed that. He and I have really bonded during this time, and he's super sweet to me (as are my other boys) and he likes my cats and dog.
Well, back in mid-May, one of my hens had an infection in her foot, so I brought her inside to treat that. She was on the porch with him but separated so they could see and not touch. The drake was so happy to have a friend. I finally got her healed up about a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't taken her back outside yet. I know he's enjoying having her, but she is beyond ready to go back outside. Throws a fuss every time I open the door. I haven't put her back out because 1) I feel bad leaving him alone again 2) I was having a predator issue with my chickens and didn't want to send anyone else out to it, but it's been resolved 3) I wanted to be sure her foot was healed, which it is as best I can tell.
Over the last few days, when I go out on the porch, though, the drake has started putting his head down and running towards me like he's going to go after me if I turn my back on him. If I turn around or say something to him, he stops. And it's like he's only half-heartedly doing it and doesn't really want to. But this is very new as he's always been soooo sweet. And none of my other boys do it when I'm with them. Is it because he's trying to protect her? I was picking her up a few times a day and taking her in for antibiotics and foot soaks. If I put her outside, will he stop this most likely? And would I be a huge jerk for putting her back out and leaving him alone again for a few more weeks (he should be going back out in July if all goes accordingly)? I don't want him to get depressed, but I'm not going to reward him for being a jerk either.
