Drakes raping my little hens / (male ducks raping female ducks), they are injuring my females! HELP!

[nayeli]

Oh as far as duck rape I just read the most awful post by @Haunted55

 

[subhanalah]

Was it here on BYC? Can you link us to the post? (Click on the blue numbers at the top right corner of the individual post, click that link, then once it loads, copy and paste from the address bar .)

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

My ducks lay eggs all the time, with or without a male. It is when they start mating that the eggs become fertile.

 

[Amiga]

No need for drakes in a flock unless you want to have ducklings.

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Thank you all for your very informative posts!
I have moved the three girls (victims) into the duck house. My dad advised me to allow Butterscotch to physically watch me pick up her nest so that she knows it belongs to her. I moved the nest, eggs and Butterscotch all together into the duck house. It took her a few minutes of quaking to acclimate, before she laid on her eggs. They all seem to be doing well now.

As for the boys...they are fighting prob related to all the testosterone.

Will this behavior settle down or will I have to give up some of my boys?

I have never had such aggressive drakes. Butterscotch was used to having her three brothers around and only selected to mate with one. Sadly, the coyotes got all the boys. They were very sweet and calm- tempered khaki campbells. The two new ones I have are CRAZY!!

 

[subhanalah]

You should keep your mallards separated from the boys, it will get worse for them, and since they are so small, they could be killed.

why didn't you just separate the drakes and leave the girls where they were (including butterscotch).
not trying to be pushy, just wondering why you didn't take that action instead?

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

.

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Butterscotch has abrasions on the back of her neck from all the forced rapes





She looks comfortable and probably feels safe now

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Thanks for being concerned! The mallards are so fast and fly off quickly as soon as they see the drakes coming. We have a private lake and I figured since all the drakes are so young compared to my two old hens, they could exert some of their energy swimming, eating and chasing the geese. I also wanted the girls to be kept secluded where they can heal from their injuries. I am currently treating them with Tylosan (antibiotic) that my fiance' recommended (he's a veterinarian). This really helped the Welsh Harlequin heal up because Tylosan is excreted through the lacrimal glands in the eyes. Im just worried that the boys are going to hurt each other. The pekins are 12+ lbs and they have a hard time running away from the khaki campbells.

 

[MarysAviaryHeartAndZoo]

Can any one tell me why my hen's feathers look so mangled and torn up?

As far as her diet goes: 90% layer pellets and 10% grower/finisher. I've been putting poultry vitamins drops in her water. This seems to have made her more energetic, but her feathers look so pitiful.

Any suggestions?