Help my aggressive runner drakes attack me!

[johanna123]

I incubated & hatched 4 runner ducks last september (2 drakes, 2 ducks). The drakes (1 in particular) has gone from wanting cuddles with my daughter to attacking us (mostly me) It actually split her lip the other day & gives me daily blood blisters when I feed them & collect eggs. He used to just peck my boots but now aims for flesh!
It began when the girls started laying & I don't know what to do. I have read that you should push them away & not back down, but this seems to make him worse.
I was going to try & hatch some call ducks, but this experience is rapidly putting me off.
Please can you give me advise?

 

[sourland]

It is a sad truth, but when we oversocialize ducks or chickens they lose all respect and fear of us. He is treating you as he would treat another drake who is a challenge for his ducks. I would cull or rehome the more agressive drake and raise some ducklings from the remaining ducks. Treat them kindly but do not oversocialize them. If you can tolerate him this behavior should end once the breeding season is over, but will return each spring.

 

[johanna123]

Oh no, I was worried that might be the case. I wish I had known
I couldn't cull or sell so I guess I'll have to make some leg defenders!
Would adding more females help?

 

[Wifezilla]

Pick him up, flip him on his back and carry him around. That lets my drake know I am the top duck

 

[duckyfromoz]

I did a similar thing with my huge big Aylesbury drake- He was hand raised as a lone duckling and I was desperate to stop his bad behaviour so I could keep him. I was on annual leave from work- and went outside every hour during the day- waited for him to charge at me and I turned him on his back on the ground. He would take a minute or so to get back up on his feet- But within three days he had almost stopped completely. A sense of calm has remained in the yard now for 4 months. Its worth a try if you really want to keep this drake.

 

[Amiga]

(slight departure, but . . . ) Are drakes the only ones who do this, or do the females get testy as well? So far, my eleven female (I think) runners are fine - a bit skittery, but not aggressive.

 

[MysticalMom]

Ducks will be ducks. My mutt drake ( the appleyard/khaki cross) tries to run at me, head down, wings out, like he wants to kill me every day and he'd bite me if I let him. And one of my muscovy thinks he's the boss sometimes too. Oh they'll act like babies when I have treats in my hand, but then act the fool later. Whenever they act they stupid, I just turn around and go back at them and they usually back down. I've even been known to swat mine on the bill or give them a slight kick if they get me too good, once I had to snatch Apple up and hold him still. Boy he didn't like that, but if he does it again I' ll do it again until he gets the idea. It's been my experience that ducks are super smart and get it pretty quick. Anyway..My point is, most ducks aren't cuddly creatures by nature and you're bigger than him.

Show him who's boss, but don't blame him. He thinks you want his wimminz!

 

[Wifezilla]

Yes. We are steelin hiz wimminz.

A protective drake can be a pain, but he is doing his job.

 

[lovesduckies]

.. the last person who got attacked by a drake got some great advice from my dad..

call the duck police and have his arrested for duckmestic violence

i thought it was funny

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Two of my three Pekin drakes are monsters! I mean HUGE and BURLY!! The two of them try to tag team me when I go into the Pekin pen. I now carry a wimpy stick and I do mean wimpy. It would probably snap if I hit one of them with it but they don't know that.

I stand tall when I go into their pen. They immediately come running at me (they're about 15 lbs a piece!) and I hold my wimpy stick and yell "NO!" loudly at the two of them and they back off. If I go near one of the girls, they come running at me like twin bulls! Splish is a good boy. He stays out of mama's way. Nibbles & Splash would knock me over if they had half a chance!

My Runners though stay away from me. I go into their pen and they have a healthy respect for me. They go to the other side and ignore me.

Laurie