Ducks bullying call hen

[krusiducks]

Been awhile since I’ve been on here, guess that means things have been going pretty well with my ducks, BUT...I currently have a flock of 11 ducks, 2 drakes (a khaki Campbell and a gray call) and 9 hens of various breeds, including a khaki call. The last duck I added was the khaki hen, last July. I thought she would pair with my call drake, but no one seems to like her. Peck at her when she walks by and the khaki Campbell drake alternates between trying to run her away from the flock and mating with her. She is a great forager (because she’s not part of the “mean girls”) always on the edge of the group and extra alert because she’s looking for the next attack. Is there a way to smooth this out?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Does any of the females like her? I have Runners right now picking on one of my Muscovy females so today they are separated Runners on one side of the fence Muscovy on the other. If there are a few females or a female and drake that don’t pick on her try separation and see if that will help. Hormones are in full swing and it may take a couple of months for things to start calming down.

 

[Isaac 0]

I currently have a few female's being bullied by other males/females, since its spring hormones are running high currently. Besides separating the best you can do is keep an eye on her and make sure nothing gets out of hand.

 

[krusiducks]

Does any of the females like her? I have Runners right now picking on one of my Muscovy females so today they are separated Runners on one side of the fence Muscovy on the other. If there are a few females or a female and drake that don’t pick on her try separation and see if that will help. Hormones are in full swing and it may take a couple of months for things to start calming down.

No one really likes her. I never see her napping with any other ducks. They either ignore her or try to peck her. My call drake is okay with her (although I’ve seen him drive her off too). Wondering about penning them together? Would that make him be a little protective of her? Also wondering about getting more ducklings (I’m always thinking about that though!) and putting her in with them? I was hoping to hear from you Miss Lydia, you’ve given me great advice in the past!

 

[krusiducks]

I currently have a few female's being bullied by other males/females, since its spring hormones are running high currently. Besides separating the best you can do is keep an eye on her and make sure nothing gets out of hand.

It does seem to be worse now, although they’ve always ostracized her. I know a lot of this is me giving her human emotions, but it breaks my heart to see her on the outskirts of the flock!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s a shame they won’t let her be part of the flock. I don’t think I’d pen them together? Or do you mean just the drake and her? You could try it but you also don’t want him mating her to death either. One duck to one drake can be really hard on a duck that’s why I mentioned maybe one other female and drake an her. Not sure she’d take to ducklings and of course they’d have to be brooded till feathered. I’d try her and another duck and the drake penned together and see how that goes. Or try what @MasterOfClucker recs. I hurt for the one being bullied though they do need a flock to be happy.

 

[Isaac 0]

It does seem to be worse now, although they’ve always ostracized her. I know a lot of this is me giving her human emotions, but it breaks my heart to see her on the outskirts of the flock!

Perhaps... Pen her up with other ducks that get along with her. They might form a bond with each other. Best to put her with other females though, One to One ratio doesn't often work well. Once they are used to each other you can throw them back out with the flock.

 

[Isaac 0]

That’s a shame they won’t let her be part of the flock. I don’t think I’d pen them together? Or do you mean just the drake and her? You could try it but you also don’t want him mating her to death either. One duck to one drake can be really hard on a duck that’s why I mentioned maybe one other female and drake an her. Not sure she’d take to ducklings and of course they’d have to be brooded till feathered. I’d try her and another duck and the drake penned together and see how that goes. Or try what @MasterOfClucker recs. I hurt for the one being bullied though they do need a flock to be happy.

You beat me to it! lol

 

[krusiducks]

I have never seen my call drake be aggressive to her, but I will try penning her with a couple ducks in a separate area of the coop tonight. During the day they are in various penned (almost free range) enclosures, so they don’t have to be in close contact with each other. It would just be nice to have a unified flock. I’ll see how this goes...really wanted the “more ducks” option though!

 

[Isaac 0]

I have never seen my call drake be aggressive to her, but I will try penning her with a couple ducks in a separate area of the coop tonight. During the day they are in various penned (almost free range) enclosures, so they don’t have to be in close contact with each other. It would just be nice to have a unified flock. I’ll see how this goes...really wanted the “more ducks” option though!

Let us know how it goes!