Duck Outcast Problem

[veronicasmom]

Hi fellow Mainer! I had a similar issue one time. We now have 8 girls and one boy. At one time he fixated on one female and just kept after her and basically ignored the rest. Just at the time I was going to make a flock of 3 girls separate from the others, he stopped. But I only have one drake. I know you say they are doing well now, but just realize that if nature kicks in again, it could be when you are not looking and Marcy could be ganged up on by the three drakes and really hurt. I know it stinks, but imo it might be a good idea to have two flocks. You cannot watch them 24/7 and I would hate for you to have something awful happen and have you find her in bad shape.
Ducks are wonderful, but they are animals and do stuff that we don't always like. I respect you for not wanting to get rid of any of them. I think that is very caring and responsible. So, next step is to make sure they can co exist. Good luck to you!!!!

 

[PBGGG]

I'm going to keep very close watch. Luckily they spend most of the day on our back porch which is just off the living room. Well, not so lucky because it's covered in crap and will be until the hose is unfrozen. Anyway, they start making a racket when it's "that time" and I go peek out the window to check on Marcy. She is still on the porch with the whole group and I even saw her drinking out of the same water bucket at the same time a few of the others were. I feel encouraged by today's behavior but I am certainly on guard. If I have to, I will move Marceline indoors. My daughter has a pet rooster who has been living inside since he was found under the horse barn about 5 months ago. Maybe they will be buddies.

Thanks for your comment. Looks like we are all getting some much needed snow today.

 

[laughingdog]

I had same trouble with my Americana bantams. I took out trouble cockerels that were forcefully group over "loving" the pullets. the two vicious males are now penned with and kept in check by three very aggressive dutch bantam hens. hehehe. id have eaten them if they weren't so beautiful. the other cockerel i had is maybe stunted or slower developing, as he has no spur nubs yet has part of softer les frequent crow, but finest feathers and disposition of three and beat the feathers off both other two and spar for hours after catching the two others"double trouble love on a hen" (it really physically and mentally hurt my hens).

my scovy drakelets tried this along with daddy, and almost drowned a few ducklets and momma duck. one drake decided to be gentle and tried. to fight others off one two or few ect at time even though lost cause and put him at bottom of pecking order with them, though made him strong and even more determined to stay close run blocker console preen and fend off for and feed females. he now gets all eight ladies to himself and rest get freezer camp.

let me say you don't want to breed from or keep pet anything aggressive towards their ladies. I've seen other breeders of pther birds say you need males that take charge and keep females in place. I bred same animal types, tame males to ladies and always had a lot higher fertility, longevity ect. my gentleman males to their ladies in poultry are actually seemingly better at protection for females so far, though the male seem eager to go at danger and not worry about selves seemingly at all (bad if you only have one).

What about those saddles made for hens so they don't get hurt by roos??? id imagine sizes would work or be close enough to adjust maybe. there maybe duck saddles too for all i know. just thought of.. good luck!

 

[PBGGG]

That's a good idea. I briefly thought about a saddle for Marcy, I wondered if she wore it temporarily the brutes would give up and forget about her.

As far as breeding, I have no plans or interest in that at the moment.

 

[laughingdog]

Seperating then would work best then, as unless your eating eggs then most ducks stressed supposedly a lot by mating and laying, not to mention being chased and harrassed till worn down generally, not to mention drakes once start to fight and hens get in way or both tug at or fight for "hop on top" game at same time or one doing as and after other has hold of or holding down already. my herding dogs block and break up ducks if they get too pushy or fight, and i was encouraging this till took all but best male that ladies enjoy company of.

 

[PBGGG]

Hello everyone- I have an update.

Marcy is still alive. Last Sunday I went outside to put them away for the night, and she was covered in blood. It was dripping off her side. The boys pulled some feathers out. We brought her inside and she got a bath, and now we are keeping her in a coop in the living room. She is going to be inside for a few months because it is too cold outside, especially after being in a 70 degree house.



We brought in one of the other females so she could have a buddy for a few hours.

 

[Learningstill]

So glad she is okay. It is hard keeping them in the house. We just had 14 ducks and one chicken in the house for a week! I could not imagine months.

I think the drake she fancies should be the one brought in. I would not leave one duck out with the drakes. We have penned our aggressor and victim together and it mellowed the aggression. I did not keep track who is who, but I would say the drake she likes would be the best separation buddy. A few reasons why, if they bond he might protect her, also when they go back out he will have to reestablish pecking order, so the focus will be off her, although the ducks may bother her, and you will have more than one duck outside with the drakes.

Best wishes.