Ducks not getting along!

[jack031]

A few weeks ago I bought two females and a male mixed laying hybrid ducks. Two of the ducks hit it off quite well but one of them was looking a bit left out so we decided to get another Drake to keep it company. Since then the old Drake is repeatedly chasing the newcomer male away from the food, water, females and forcing him to stay in the house. I have increased the size of the run for them and allowed them free roam of the garden to see if they were feeling cooped up but does anyone have any other ideas.

 

[Justy0]

As long as he isn't hurting the other drake badly, it sounds like its just a territorial issue. If the drake is getting left out and needs to be more social you could possibly try separating the drakes and letting the new drake in with the females and putting the old drake out of view so he wont get angry. But if the drakes just don't like to hang out, and that's it, then its probably not a big deal.

 

[Amiga]

Well, generally speaking, in the spring especially, if you have more than one drake there are going to be conflicts, and they can turn nasty.

The rule of thumb is three or more females per male in a flock. Some folks won't have more than one drake, period.

But others have more than one drake, and end up separating them. It's work, but if you don't intervene, you could have serious injuries to deal with. And then there are the times that both drakes with try to mate the same female at once, sometimes killing her.

Not to be mean, just to let you know the potential risks.

 

[jack031]

Thanks guys im very new to ducks and im learning new things everyday ill try seperate one female to each male.

 

[Amiga]

Watch for over-mating! The girls' lives depend on you, too.

 

[Justy0]

That's also true. Drakes can be sex maniacs, and not only do girls not appreciate that trait, but it can harm or kill them. If you do have one male and one female alone, be sure to let the females have some alone time to so they get breaks.

 

[Carcajou]

Watch for over-mating! The girls' lives depend on you, too.

That's also true. Drakes can be sex maniacs, and not only do girls not appreciate that trait, but it can harm or kill them. If you do have one male and one female alone, be sure to let the females have some alone time to so they get breaks.

X2 and X2

 

[Carcajou]

jack031 and Justy0