Drake Bullying a Duck - Advice Needed

[Pyxis]

Jeez, my drakes just will not give me a break! First, I had one that was bullying three of the others, and partially contributed to the death of one. So him and the only drake he got along with went to a new home. That left me with two drakes and a duck. Well, I added a new duck and her duckling. Surprisingly, this is not the duck that is getting bullied. Acorn, my mallard male, keeps chasing Peanut, my original Pekin duck, away from the rest of the flock. She runs away every time. She used to hang out with the male that bullied him, and I wonder if that is contributing to the problem? Perhaps he has associated her with the bully drake? Anyway, is there any way to get this to stop? It's not him trying to mate with her and her running away - he actually chases her down, head lowered, beak open, and drives her away from the other birds. He does not yet have drake feathers or the urge to mate. When the hormones start flowing, do you think he'll realize that she's a girl and he's a boy and he'll stop driving her off? I just want peace in my flock. I swear, these birds are driving me up a wall.

 

[Bunnylady]

My ducks have always been a "clannish" bunch; there has definitely been a tendency to hang with a closed group of friends and to drive off members of other groups. I would say that your assessment of the situation is correct. The Pekin's association with the more dominant drake made her part of a different group in the mallard's eyes, so to him, she's still one of "them" even though the drake is gone. Hopefully, he will get over this with time, as being pushed away from the group is stressful for the duck, and may make her more vulnerable to predators.

It seems so simple, but the birds just won't let it be, will they?

 

[Pyxis]

Is there anything I can do to speed up the process of him accepting her? My other drake has no problem with her, nor does the other female or her duckling. Just the one mallard. It would actually be pretty funny if it weren't stressful to her - picture a big pekin running from a little mallard.

 

[Nutz245]

I had almost the same situation you have Pyxis and I took the bully and penned his butt up by himself for about 2 weeks. When I let him free he had seemed to have cooled his jets and didn't go after some of the others as bad. I don't know why but it did seem to calm everyone down and they all seem to be flocking together now.

Good luck...lol

 

[Pyxis]

Well, they were all getting along today while I watched them. Acorn seems to have gotten over himself at least a little. I'll watch and see, though.

 

[galgo98]

I had almost the same situation you have Pyxis and I took the bully and penned his butt up by himself for about 2 weeks. When I let him free he had seemed to have cooled his jets and didn't go after some of the others as bad. I don't know why but it did seem to calm everyone down and they all seem to be flocking together now.

Good luck...lol

Did you pen him where he couldn't see the rest of the flock or was he close enough to see? I have two drakes that I have been penning in the next run for about a week now, so they can see the rest of the flock free-ranging. They still go crazy if any of the girls get near their fence. I'm thinking that they may need solitary confinement to erase their little bird brains?

 

[Nutz245]

I penned him where the rest could see him. Some of the girls would hang around him and lay near the fence. He still seemed aggressive for a while (not sure how long). When he was turned lose he seemed to enjoy his freedom and wasn't so intent on protecting his stature.
It's a real mystery how their bird brains comprehend the world. We're just silly humans trying to understand

Good luck

 

[galgo98]

Well... human 1, ducks 0 !! The boys were separated for about 1 week. When reintroduced, they no longer wanted to kill the new females. But they kept segregating their original girls, and not allowing the new girls in the flock. So, I penned everybody together in a smallish square area of the pen. No corners, no place to hide. It took about 5 days until I saw them completely moving as a group. I then started to let them out onto the grass when I was there to herd them around. They stayed together. Enlarged their area in the pen. Still good. Now everybody free ranges together happily. Occasionally, I see the new girls off by themselves, but they have no problem running back into the flock!!! Yeah!
The geese are happy now that peace has been restored to the backyard!!

Thanks!

Pyxis how are you making out with your drake??

 

[Pyxis]

All is well He no longer goes after her. I just gave it time and penned them in together in close quarters at night. The other day I even saw them swimming in the pool together all cozy, happy as clams. No mating though. Silly boys aren't interested in girls yet. Next spring perhaps.