Harassing male...will he mellow out.

[austroberta]

Ok, that's kind of the feeling I got. I hear so many people talking about sending their boys to "duck jail" because they're so rapey. I just don't see what good it does to put the poor girls through that unless a person is dead set on having ducklings. At least (some) roosters have redeeming qualities. Many people with a rooster acting like a drake turn him into rooster stew. If it were me he'd be long gone. I wouldn't personally kill him, but I wouldn't really care what happened to him after I gave him away. I know it's just how they are, but it doesn't make it any less unpleasant for the girls, and I don't tolerate that.

I was going to put a posting on Craigs List last night, but my hubby was horrified by the thought. Male solidarity, I guess? I'm with you. I don't want to tolerate his shenanigans if it harms the other ducks, male duck nature be damned. I'm all for compassion but boys will NOT be boys if I have my say.

If we weren't vegetarians I wouldn't think twice about duck l'orange!

 

[PirateGirl]

The shame because you're a vegetarian really made this a gut buster. (And I admire you by the way. I don't ever cook meat for myself, but if it's already made I still eat it. I aspire to kick the habit completely someday.)

Not trying to be snarky, truly asking here. What is the point of keeping a male duck? With chickens the roosters protect the flock, finds good food for the girls, breaks up fights between the hens and help keep any of the hens from wandering off when free ranging. Of course he fertilizes the eggs as well, but clearly he has plenty of other functions.
All I ever hear is how the male ducks sexually harass the females all the time. Do the males do any of the things that male chickens do?

I absolutely love my drake. He does the sorts of things you describe of your rooster. He is the leader and the protector. He herds them in the house at night and makes them all get behind him if he perceives danger. He makes sure all the ladies get food/water/treats before he helps himself. Drakes *can* be good for the flock just as roosters can, but not all drakes play nice, nor do all roosters. Partly it's hormones, partly it's ratios. As with chicken flocks, if there are lots of girls and only one male, there is much less drama in terms of mating as well as fighting.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Separate him or get rid of him. Male ducks are not like roosters. They are just brutal when they get the urge.

 

[austroberta]

I absolutely love my drake. He does the sorts of things you describe of your rooster. He is the leader and the protector. He herds them in the house at night and makes them all get behind him if he perceives danger. He makes sure all the ladies get food/water/treats before he helps himself. Drakes *can* be good for the flock just as roosters can, but not all drakes play nice, nor do all roosters. Partly it's hormones, partly it's ratios. As with chicken flocks, if there are lots of girls and only one male, there is much less drama in terms of mating as well as fighting.

I wish I had a gentleman drake like that! Unfortunately I have the equivalent of deadbeat who sits on the couch all day drinking beer and watching porn.

 

[austroberta]

Separate him or get rid of him. Male ducks are not like roosters. They are just brutal when they get the urge.

I have been separating him and when I do, everything is great. My ducks have gotten used to the idea that he's in a different part of the yard, so they no longer rush to his side when he's by his lonesome. They are still not eating their duck food, but they are more active. I think the cold might be contributing to their lack of appetite. Then again, I do see they are eating lots of bugs/worms.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You have a lot of bugs and worms? I’ve seen a few bugs but worms are sure scarce.

 

[PirateGirl]

All my ducks can find are snow-cones

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I was going to put a posting on Craigs List last night, but my hubby was horrified by the thought. Male solidarity, I guess? I'm with you. I don't want to tolerate his shenanigans if it harms the other ducks, male duck nature be damned. I'm all for compassion but boys will NOT be boys if I have my say.

If we weren't vegetarians I wouldn't think twice about duck l'orange!

Oh, you just gave me a laughing spree! I thought you were talking about a man!

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I absolutely love my drake. He does the sorts of things you describe of your rooster. He is the leader and the protector. He herds them in the house at night and makes them all get behind him if he perceives danger. He makes sure all the ladies get food/water/treats before he helps himself. Drakes *can* be good for the flock just as roosters can, but not all drakes play nice, nor do all roosters. Partly it's hormones, partly it's ratios. As with chicken flocks, if there are lots of girls and only one male, there is much less drama in terms of mating as well as fighting.

That's how my male is. Except he acts kind of naughty

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I wouldn't think twice about duck l'orange!

ME EITHER!! I LOVE MY QUAKERS!