Duck behavior

[FFFarm20]

So my muscovy drake started chasing and biting the neck of 2 of my females. He much prefers to go after my appleyard and she doesn't seem too interested. The appleyard and saxony are about 16 weeks while he's only 14 weeks. Is this a dominance thing or mating? Because I think they're too young for it still and the older ladies used to pick on him a lot but now he's the biggest one of the flock. Fyi those green headed drakes will be gone in a week or 2 to help solve some issues

 

[sourland]

Muscovies can be strange birds. I have seen such behavior escalate to attack and injury. If he were mine, I would remove him from the flock to cut down on stress and increase stability.

 

[FFFarm20]

Hes the one we planned on keeping. We want muscovies. We ordered them and the guy messed up all his eggs apparently so we ended up with 2 muscovies (1 died), 2 saxony and an appleyard. So since he messed up, he gave us 2 free muscovy ducks which is where big guy came from. Hes super sweet with our muscovy girls, this is the first time hes done this. I'd much rather part with everyone who isn't a muscovy

 

[ajohn151]

My Muscovy male was doing the same thing today. He was grabbing my female Appleyard by her back between her wings and wouldn't let go for 30-60 seconds. My Embden goose intervened and broke it up. I think its mating behavior, but I could be wrong. This Appleyard has been head bobbing a lot near my drake Appleyard. She is flirting for sure. I think what your Muscovy was doing was mating related. Your flock is beautiful BTW!

 

[FFFarm20]

Thank you! I love them so much though the khaki drakes won't come near me lol you really think mating? Would they do it at 14 weeks of age?

 

[ajohn151]

Thank you! I love them so much though the khaki drakes won't come near me lol you really think mating? Would they do it at 14 weeks of age?

Yes I do think so at 14 weeks. Mine are 13-14 weeks. I have a friend who is an expert in ducks. She has a foundation that rescues and rehomes drakes and other unwanted ducks. She was here early this week and laughed when my wife asked what they were doing. “They are being amorous” she said. She said they reach sexual maturity around 12 weeks. Your flock looks very similar to mine actually.

 

[swampfox440]

Muscovy's can beat a pain with other ducks I do not like them . Someone dropped one off by my house and of course it came to stay and then went and killed two of my mallards . It was not long until it became an Oven bird .

 

[FFFarm20]

In all fairness, I literally only wanted muscovy and the guy we ordered it from screwed up royally. The khakis were supposed to be our egg layers but of course we got 5 drakes and 1 female. We just enjoy the lack of noise from the muscovy plus they love hugs lol I think theure all fine for now and once those 5 drakes are gone, it'll be 2 drakes and 5 females

 

[swampfox440]

Oh ! now I see Thanks