Drake singles out one female

[duckduckgone]

We've had ducks about eight years now; from 3 to 6 in the backyard.

Lately, a month or so, our drake Charley has been constantly pursuing and mounting Daisy. It's a dominance mount. But it's all the time and the girl needs a break.

Any thoughts?

 

[sourland]

I'd separate him from the flock for a couple of weeks hoping that his attitude will change.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Drakes will have favorites just like males of any species. I separate my drakes during the heavy mating seasons to give my females a break... especially for my hen Sage...being the favorite isn't always a good thing...

 

[cheezenkwackers]

My drake does it too, he picks on two of my girls (he has five). I do not think he does it because they are his favorites but because he is a bully and they do not seem to like him. They are also at the bottom of the pecking order. I have to keep him separate from them for a couple months starting in the spring. I usually try reintroductions around July 4 but if he is still being a jerk then I wait until September.

 

[Kwebber28]

I am having the same issue. I have 13 ducks (9 female and 4 male). My 3 males have picked one female to be their favourite and she is getting really beat up. Today she won’t come out of the coop? Do I separate her? I have a smaller coop but I currently have 6 ducklings that are 3 weeks old in it.

 

[KaleIAm]

I am having the same issue. I have 13 ducks (9 female and 4 male). My 3 males have picked one female to be their favourite and she is getting really beat up. Today she won’t come out of the coop? Do I separate her? I have a smaller coop but I currently have 6 ducklings that are 3 weeks old in it.

I feel that you have a bit too many males for your females. I would definitely separate your beat up female from the males before she is permanently injured or killed. We get reports of drakes accidentally killing duck hens. My own duck was permanently injured by overmating before I adopted her.

Can you put a see through barrier in your coop/run to make a separate area for your beat up duck hen?

Are all the ducklings female? If not I recommend doing something about your ratio.

 

[Kwebber28]

I feel that you have a bit too many males for your females. I would definitely separate your beat up female from the males before she is permanently injured or killed. We get reports of drakes accidentally killing duck hens. My own duck was permanently injured by overmating before I adopted her.

Can you put a see through barrier in your coop/run to make a separate area for your beat up duck hen?

Are all the ducklings female? If not I recommend doing something about your ratio.

I had 16 females but just recently a coyote killed 7 so that’s why my ratio is so off. My new ducklings are all female. I have 6 and I am getting 2 more. I have separated her and her male partner in their own coop and pen. I first took just her away and he was crying for her and the other three males where chasing him. The two are happily sleeping in the coop snuggling.

Do you have any advice about re-introducing them once the new ducklings are full size and she has all her feathers back?

 

[KaleIAm]

I had 16 females but just recently a coyote killed 7 so that’s why my ratio is so off. My new ducklings are all female. I have 6 and I am getting 2 more. I have separated her and her male partner in their own coop and pen. I first took just her away and he was crying for her and the other three males where chasing him. The two are happily sleeping in the coop snuggling.

Do you have any advice about re-introducing them once the new ducklings are full size and she has all her feathers back?

I'm so sorry to hear about the coyote attack.

Hopefully their hormones will have decreased by the time you reintroduce, that should make things smoother. I have heard that introducing in a neutral area, rather than the coop/run, which the drakes may feel is theirs, might go over better. Or introducing the dominant animal into the submissive animals space. A look but no touch method seems to be the most reliable. Perhaps lots of mealworms during the introduction will make it a more positive experience.

Sometimes our ducks just do whatever they want anyway. That has been my experience at times.

 

[Kwebber28]

I'm so sorry to hear about the coyote attack.

Hopefully their hormones will have decreased by the time you reintroduce, that should make things smoother. I have heard that introducing in a neutral area, rather than the coop/run, which the drakes may feel is theirs, might go over better. Or introducing the dominant animal into the submissive animals space. A look but no touch method seems to be the most reliable. Perhaps lots of mealworms during the introduction will make it a more positive experience.

Sometimes our ducks just do whatever they want anyway. That has been my experience at times.

I have the two ducks seperated in a pen where they can see the other ducks and interact through the fencing. I will let them have free roam time seperately. I will try and re-introduce in a month or so.

 

[duckduckgone]

Thanks. Separating them. Our ratio is one drake, five ducks.