Drake being bullied

[HeatherKellyB]

Hello! Just in case you're not familiar, I have 2 ducks (1 Pekin and 1 Buff) & 4 drake's (1 Jumbo Pekin, 1 Pekin, 1 Mallard, and 1 Cayuga). The Pekins and Buff hatched the first week in Aug 2019 and the Mallard and Cayuga hatched a week later. So far only the Mallard and Cayuga are mature and mating/attempting to mate the 2 ducks. I figured the Pekins were just slow to mature because of their size, but I've heard of others experiencing the same with their Pekins. My Pekin Drake came to me at a week old, walking on his ankle joint, and with the help from some amazing folks here, he walks flat on his foot now, but has always had a very noticeable limp which in turn has made his gait one sided. He falls often and gets left behind at times but he's always done well in spite of everything, until yesterday. Right before dark, they will come and meet us halfway between our house and their duck house and then walk down with is to a small fenced area where they eat and drink before lock up. All throughout the day they free range and swim on our pond. Whenever they came to meet us, I noticed Reggie wasn't with them but was on the bank going into their feeding area, alone. Their feeding area is fenced so they will go in their duck house for lock up at night, so they were all together while they ate. The other drakes kept biting Reggie on the neck and bill, chasing him away from the others and just really seemed to bully him. I know that chickens will attack, kill, attempt to drive away a sick or injured bird, so I'm wondering if ducks do this? Or do you think Reggie is finally maturing and the other drakes do not want him mating the ducks? My only thought about that is the jumbo Pekin hasn't been mating either, so why would he bully the other Pekin? Is he giving into peer pressure? I've checked Reggie over and don't see anything else wrong with him. Also, they are driving him away from the Flock out on the pond as well. I am desperately trying to find a home for my drakes, but now I don't think they should go to the same home, especially if he is being bullied. I know that I have too many drakes and although it wasn't intentional, I will be rehoming them to keep my ducks safe, hopefully soon

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d separate the bullies together and keep Reggie with your females. It can take a while to rehome hopefully they will tolerate each other but they may kill Reggie. It seems someone has to be the target of aggression and it looks like it’s Reggie. Can you set up another feed an water area away from the one they now using so Reggie has a chance at food? This is if you can’t separate. But honestly it would be best to give these boys their own space for your females an Reggies protection.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

They're being extremely difficult to come in off the pond this evening. They are so focused on keeping Reggie away and they're being incredibly smart about it. Reggie will come up to eat and instead of the entire flock coming up, they'll send Stormy, the Cayuga up to chase Reggie away, while the others wait on the pond. Reggie will run away and get back on the pond where he is chased away and not allowed to be part of the Flock. I am amazed at how cruel they're being. They've just now started to trust us enough to actually come in the yard for food and then following us back down to the pond or duck house for food. I can't believe I'm saying this and if something happened to any of them, I'd seriously be brokenhearted, but I feel like Stormy and India are the problems (Cayuga and Mallard), but I know that I am destined for behavior problems with so many drakes and so few ducks. So many people in my area have ducks, but I don't know of any that lock their ducks up at night. I've not had my ducks long, but honestly this is the longest I've ever had ducks without them disappearing (probably killed by prey) so I am a huge advocate for locking them up at night. I'm worried that I won't find these boys a good home. I can't just allow them to (accidentally) kill my 2 Ducks or purposefully kill Reggie, but I have no idea what to do. If I am able to separate, will the girls eventually accept Reggie? They don't seem to want anything to do with him either. Poor guy. He is so pitiful following his flock around but having to stay so far away from them. I am quite surprised that Drake (jumbo Pekin) is going along with the other boys and being a bully. Drake has always kept everyone's behavior in check. Thank you @Miss Lydia I sincerely appreciate your help

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I just went back over my reply and I keep thinking about how I am surprised by Drake's (jumbo pekin, I should say I believe he is a jumbo but all 6 came as a "Mixed flock" & he is significantly larger than Honey Pekin duck and Reggie Pekin Drake) bullying behavior. He is probably beginning to mature so if they're anything like chickens, their hormones are taking over their entire world. Drake hasn't ever been treated poorly by the other drakes but that's possibly due to size differences? He is huge compared to the other 5. Both girls seem to really like Drake the best but have settled for Stormy and India because they'll actually act on the girls advances.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They're being extremely difficult to come in off the pond this evening. They are so focused on keeping Reggie away and they're being incredibly smart about it. Reggie will come up to eat and instead of the entire flock coming up, they'll send Stormy, the Cayuga up to chase Reggie away, while the others wait on the pond. Reggie will run away and get back on the pond where he is chased away and not allowed to be part of the Flock. I am amazed at how cruel they're being. They've just now started to trust us enough to actually come in the yard for food and then following us back down to the pond or duck house for food. I can't believe I'm saying this and if something happened to any of them, I'd seriously be brokenhearted, but I feel like Stormy and India are the problems (Cayuga and Mallard), but I know that I am destined for behavior problems with so many drakes and so few ducks. So many people in my area have ducks, but I don't know of any that lock their ducks up at night. I've not had my ducks long, but honestly this is the longest I've ever had ducks without them disappearing (probably killed by prey) so I am a huge advocate for locking them up at night. I'm worried that I won't find these boys a good home. I can't just allow them to (accidentally) kill my 2 Ducks or purposefully kill Reggie, but I have no idea what to do. If I am able to separate, will the girls eventually accept Reggie? They don't seem to want anything to do with him either. Poor guy. He is so pitiful following his flock around but having to stay so far away from them. I am quite surprised that Drake (jumbo Pekin) is going along with the other boys and being a bully. Drake has always kept everyone's behavior in check. Thank you @Miss Lydia I sincerely appreciate your help

If the other drakes are gone the girls will probably accept Reggie. Are you planning on keeping Drake too. Do you have any water fowl rescues in your area? Some will take drakes I believe Carolina waterfowl rescue will.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I actually planned on rehoming all of the drakes, but the girls have always seemed to prefer Drake. He's always impressed me with his ability to maintain control in the Flock, but it's a crazy house now and he doesn't seem to mind. I don't know of any rescues but I'll definitely be on the phone with the one you mentioned in the morning. Would it be unwise of me to give up all 4 drakes if a rescue will take them, or will I just be passing this behavior problem on to someone else? I don't know what's happened. India and Stormy have always been a little bit jerkish, but it's out of control now

 

[DiYMama540]

Poor little Reggie!! Hope you figure out a setup that works for all of them

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I should add that I got India and Stormy a week after the others. They were a lot smaller so I had to keep them separate for about a month before putting them all together. India started damaging feathers (bloody) soon after integration, so I don't know if this is something I should have seen coming way before now. I did see the hormonal issues coming, but this is absolutely horrible. I know I am placing human feelings where they don't belong, but if Reggie doesn't feel bullied and brokenhearted, then I'd be beyond amazed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The rescue will know all about drake behavior and most likely if they will take them will not place them all together. As for giving them all up will be your decision. I love my drakes they have plenty of females and so far none have been over used. Now this will be my first time with 2 Runner drakes father an son and if I have to they will be separated with their own females during breeding season. My Muscovy drake has no problem with the Runner drakes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ducks are very much flock oriented so I imagine he isn’t enjoying being bullied and forced to stay away from his flock.