Duck dynamics

[fogbubble]

I've got three drakes and 5 female ducks. Two of the drakes are constantly fighting and they look terrible: bald spots, ruffled feathers, etc. There's no bleeding or serious injuries that I can see, but they're kinda' thin and they look shabby. The third drake doesn't have a mark on him and he seems to be in charge. I'll see him chase off the other two and mate with the girls. Here's the thing: the alpha drake is a different breed and I'd like to re-home him to focus on purebreds. I've had offers for him and that isn't a problem. I'm just wondering what his disappearance will do to the fighting between the other two drakes. Will peace reign again?
Thanks
P.S. - The ducks are in a coop at night and they free-range during the day. The pecking and shoving seems to happen all the time.

 

[nissa_loves_cats]

My drakes don't fight to that extent, they are all Anconas. I think if you separate out the dominant drake, the other two might get along--- or might fight just a little to establish who's boss. If they fight bad, maybe you should put one in another small pen for awhile and then trade off drakes, which would probably make the ducks happier anyway.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Are you sure it wasn't the one "in charge" who was beating up the other two? Sometimes the alpha drake will continue to pick on the junior drakes just to keep them in line, usually when a drake is beaten and submits that ends the fight and the senior is allowed to pick on the junior without it fighting back so the alpha drake shows no sign of having been in a fight. If the two juniors are fighting now they are likely to fight it out until one of them gains rule over the other. This is known as pecking order in chickens.