Drake really rough with new female

[StephMagee]

About 3 weeks ago, we took in 3 ducks for the winter (1 male and 2 female). I already had 2 ducks (Pecker and Daisy). They are both Pekin Ducks. We kept a baby gate up to keep the new ducks separate from our ducks until they all were able to get along. It took 2 weeks or so until they all got along and we took down the baby gate.

Now, Pecker is all over one of the new females. We call her Twitch, she is also a Pekin duck. Anyways, he is so rough with her that she has feathers missing, bruising and swelling on the back of her neck. I have never seen him this rough with Daisy. What can I do to help him lay off of Twitch? I don't want to have to keep him separated from the rest of them, but will if that is the only option. I was hoping that maybe there is something to give him to have his hormones chill out or something. At the end of the day, Twitch is so exhausted that all she does is lay in the corner and I feel so bad for her.

 

[sourland]

It is going to get worse before it gets better. Increasing day length is resulting in increased testosterone levels, and he is in a breeding frenzy. They don't have 'saltpeter' for ducks so temporary separation of the hen or him may be the only solution.

 

[StephMagee]

Thanks! I was thinking separation was the only option. But wanted to see if there was possibly anything else. He's almost 2 years old and she's I'm guessing was last years hatching so almost a year old.

 

[akkk6harlequins]

HI, I was just going to ask the same question as StephMagee. For yesterday, I noticed one of my female Welsh Harlequins, is missing the feathers off the back of her neck, too. So, Thank-you, for your input.
I know there is a shield that one could put over a chicken, but not sure if there is one for ducks!! So, I've put a sock with the foot part cut off around her neck. To see if that would help. LOL, should of seen all the other ducks run away from her at first. But, after awhile they where ok with her. Even the Drake left her alone.

 

[StephMagee]

We tried the sock thing too last night!! It didn't seem to bother her, she pecked at it for a bit and then left it alone, Pecker stayed off of her from what we could tell. But this morning, she had it soaked from playing in the water all night that it weighed her neck down. So the sock works but gets too heavy around her neck from the water. So I'm not sure if a smaller sock around her neck would help? One that had a tighter fit to where the water wouldn't weigh it down. I will look into the shield you mentioned! We thought about the sock idea because Pecker will peck at our fingers and if we have gloves on he wont. Same with my toes, if I'm outside in flip flops and wander down to them, he attacks my toes but if they are covered he doesn't even think about it. So that's when we thought about the sock around Twitch's neck. Her neck is all bruised today with dried blood on it. I feel so bad Pecker is so rough. I know its the nature but still feel bad.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We tried the sock thing too last night!! It didn't seem to bother her, she pecked at it for a bit and then left it alone, Pecker stayed off of her from what we could tell. But this morning, she had it soaked from playing in the water all night that it weighed her neck down. So the sock works but gets too heavy around her neck from the water. So I'm not sure if a smaller sock around her neck would help? One that had a tighter fit to where the water wouldn't weigh it down. I will look into the shield you mentioned! We thought about the sock idea because Pecker will peck at our fingers and if we have gloves on he wont. Same with my toes, if I'm outside in flip flops and wander down to them, he attacks my toes but if they are covered he doesn't even think about it. So that's when we thought about the sock around Twitch's neck. Her neck is all bruised today with dried blood on it. I feel so bad Pecker is so rough. I know its the nature but still feel bad.

Pecker needs some time out so your female can recover don't let him continue to abuse her. Try cutting a pair of panty hose and using it for a scarf around her neck maybe it wouldn't be as heavy.

 

[akkk6harlequins]

I just broke down and took the Drake away from the females. He's now in his own pen, mad as Hell. Felt really bad that the one female is being so abused. Why, does he have to just abuse the one?? I have 5 females, an he only abuses the one. Was hoping to start collecting eggs for the incubator, but will have to hold off 'til she's healed now.
Oh, an the stock I used was off the next day. LOL .. don't know how, but she did get it off. Might try the panty hose, will be much lighter.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just broke down and took the Drake away from the females. He's now in his own pen, mad as Hell. Felt really bad that the one female is being so abused. Why, does he have to just abuse the one?? I have 5 females, an he only abuses the one. Was hoping to start collecting eggs for the incubator, but will have to hold off 'til she's healed now.
Oh, an the stock I used was off the next day. LOL .. don't know how, but she did get it off. Might try the panty hose, will be much lighter.

I really don't know why they seem to zero in on one particular duck it really bothers me too. Thankfully my drake hasn't done this he has 6 females. But if He did he would have to be removed too. Maybe being in time out and letting your female heal will change his behavior towards her lets hope so. You could always try putting a couple of the females in with him with water so the girls can be in water when mating [a little easier on them] and she how he does then rotate but not the one healing just yet. Give her some time away from him then try her in with another and see how it goes or just leave her out of the rotation for the time being. You just don't want him to look at her as a newbie.

 

[Orca5094]

I agree about keeping him separated from the abused girl, let the poor girl heal up. And like Miss Lydia said, you should give him a couple girls so he's not alone. Ducks will just constantly pace and stress trying to get to their flock if they are left alone.

I have this same problem in my flock as well. I have one girl who has a special leg (ever since hatch) and is on long-term pain meds. Of course she is the one he gets rough with during breeding season, and that is of course not good for her leg. So, he is now kept separate from her during breeding season each year. He gets 3 females in with him, and my special girl gets her best female friend. Kind of annoying that I can't keep them all together during breeding season, but I do what needs to be done to protect my special girl.

 

[akkk6harlequins]

I want to thank everyone for their input. My ducks have a pond in there pen and a large kiddie pool in the yard, since I let them free range.
I'm going to take the info of putting a couple of the females in with the drake. An rotate them every couple of days. The pen he's in also has a
large tote w/water for swimming and cleaning. Will see what happens.