Drake Biting Babies

[lklascala]

Just wondering if I am on the right track here: My existing brood of ducks consisted of a male Indian Runner, a male Mallard, and a female Indian Runner. Mama had a clutch of 11 babies and all the ducks, males included, got along spectacularly.
Then we introduced 2 more ducks, approximately 6 weeks old. Mallard, Mama, and her babies have accepted them with no problems. However, my male Indian Runner is on an active mission to seek and destroy! He chases them relentlessly and bites the back of their necks.
We have separated him from the flock, but I don't know for how long I should keep him away. They are all still visible to one another, but he constantly calls for them. Am I on the right track here? Tia.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, you are. Drakes are very territorial, they don't accept newbies that well. It can start out bad but keeping him where he can see everyone and vise versa can help get him to accept everyone as part of the flock soon. Sometimes even whole resident flocks won't accept newbies and they all have to be separated the way your doing till everyone gets use to each other.

 

[neo71665]

Yep my drakes would try to kill any younger drakes as soon as they started to show signs every year. We used to butcher the older ones every year.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yep keep them separated, but in sight. Don't put them back together until they are at the very least 4-5 months old

 

[lklascala]

That sounds horrific. I don't think I could do that to my Halfshell! Hopefully it all works out.

Yep my drakes would try to kill any younger drakes as soon as they started to show signs every year. We used to butcher the older ones every year.

 

[MrsTush]

My older Drake was a complete jerk to my younger ones. He wouldn't let them swim, lay where they wanted, eat..anything. A couple of days in the coop while the others were out and being in a crate at night mellowed him out a bit. My babies are finally old enough to move faster when they see him so that helps too.

 

[lklascala]

So it's interesting that you say that. We have had our male separated for the last 3 days. Last night we were putting the ducks back in their run and somehow he commingled with them and seemd to be fine. They all slept together in peace (I know I took a risk!). This morning when I let them out to roam in the backyard (outside of the fence), he became aggressive again. But, when I put them back inside the fenced area, he was fine again. I don't know what it is about the open space that makes him go berserk.

 

[MrsTush]

So it's interesting that you say that. We have had our male separated for the last 3 days. Last night we were putting the ducks back in their run and somehow he commingled with them and seemd to be fine. They all slept together in peace (I know I took a risk!). This morning when I let them out to roam in the backyard (outside of the fence), he became aggressive again. But, when I put them back inside the fenced area, he was fine again. I don't know what it is about the open space that makes him go berserk.

They're just rotten sometimes lol
I've been keeping an eye on mine to see if he needs to go to coop jail during the day but so far he's been a lot better. My ducklings are really starting to put on weight so I think that has a lot to do with it. They're going to be his size soon enough so he better be nice
I haven't let him sleep out of the crate yet. The coop is divided so the younger ones can be alone but some how that heavy Drake and his bratty girlfriend got over the divider. I needed to get a full nights sleep so he's on time out until he behaves