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Drake pulling and eating feathers of one hen

Chickies321

Chirping
Aug 19, 2024
52
77
68
Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar to this. I have 5 ducks all around 8-9 months old. One of my pekin hens had bumblefoot over the winter so she lived inside with us for awhile. When she was re-integrated, my Swedish blue drake did not accept her. He wouldn't let her eat, tried to shoo her away, pecked her once and drew blood. With strict supervision and persistence he finally softened toward her and now lets her eat, mates with her etc. The only issue is that he rips feathers off her shoulders and eats them. It is mainly her that he does this to, once or twice he's done it to one other pekin hen.

This particular "victim" hen has leg deformities and has not laid any eggs.

Is there anything I can do to help him or stop this behavior? My hen's skin in that area is getting irritated and her feathers are being broken.

Thank you!
 
I forgot to add that I have her separated from him in the same pen with a netting fence when they are not supervised to prevent injuries to her. So she's safe.
 
Do you “need” a drake? I had one that bullied my poor girls to the point the little magpies started limping. He ended up in the cook pot after that.
I don't neeeeeed him but my swedish blue hen is very attached to him and he's good to the other girls. He lets them eat snacks first, makes sure they are safely in bed before he goes in, etc.

The one he bullies is kind of obsessed with him and does the head bobbing flirting motion and quacks literally in his face. I think the alone time affected her social skills 🫤
 

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