Duck is attacking my chickens

[jaketch6]

I'm not sure. My husband got him from a Co worker. We had 3. One drowned, the other got eatin by a coyote last yr. He is the only duck. I felt sorry for him.

 

[LRH97]

Right now I have him in his own separate cage locked up with water. I don't want to take him out tomorrow. My chicken is so scared of him. I don't think a lady friend will help. He was not like this at all. We have a dog as well and he chases the dog too. Something is wrong with our duck. He used to be nice and would hang with the rest of our chickens and be nice.

The only thing wrong is that he's male. Drakes can be sex-crazed maniacs. Well, actually any male bird can be. It's warmed up here within the last few weeks and my Muscovy drakes have been constantly harassing the girls. They too live with my standard chickens, but they have four hens of their own species to love on. They're not even remotely interested in chickens. I also suggest you get him a female of his own.

Also bear in mind that male ducks have an actual penis. Roosters do not. The reproductive anatomy of a female chicken isn't designed for anything more than the "cloacal kiss", so an attempt at mating by your drake could result in injury to your hens.

Whether he's trying to mate, or if he's just being territorial; if it's sudden aggression, it's likely brought on by hormones.

 

[Crystal37]

I agree with everyone else. It sounds like hormones. I think i would keep him penned up, if it's an adequate enclosure. Maybe let him out when you can be there to watch him.I would also get a couple of females.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Not to scare you, but he can kill your chickens by mating with them. Chickens aren't built to mate with ducks and can be damaged very badly. Your drake needs some wives!

 

[Cayuga momma]

My drake grew up with my chickens. He was fine until hormones kicked in. He has 1 female duck, but he still terrorizes my chickens so I have to seperate them. We have more females coming in April.
Once his hormones settle down he should be fine, but that might not happen until the fall.

 

[jaketch6]

Not sure how old

 

[casportpony]

IMO, you have three choices, re-home him, get him a bunch of girls, or keep him separated.