Houston, we may have a problem!

[DuckyDonna]

I think my 4 girls have all turned gay. This past week my beautiful sweet boy was killed by a hawk and now my girls, and yes, I know they are all girls, are head bobbing and mounting each other. Is this OK or do I need to actively search for a boy to service them?

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Your hen ducks will not make any progress if they try mating. If you want them to mate and raise ducklings, I would get another Drake. I wouldn’t really call it them turning gay though, more like doesn’t have anyone to mate with but wants kid. So, maybe I would call it broody.

 

[PirateGirl]

I don't think another duck is needed, however, in spring, there always seem to be drakes in need of a home and it might be nice to give one a place to live out his days and his own flock to tend to.

 

[MillersFarm]

Ducks are very sexual. Hens will try and breed other hen, It's completely normal

 

[DuckyDonna]

Your hen ducks will not make any progress if they try mating. If you want them to mate and raise ducklings, I would get another Drake. I wouldn’t really call it them turning gay though, more like doesn’t have anyone to mate with but wants kid. So, maybe I would call it broody.

I totally get that they won't make progress but I was worried about them hurting each other. Do you think that could happen?

 

[PirateGirl]

If you have a female that ends up getting picked on now that the drake isn't around, or one that acts out more and is a bully, there could be an issue. The flock dynamics might change now that the drake is gone and you'll just have to watch carefully as they adjust and make sure they all play nice.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

I saw a video on ducks. It said that the drakes are the ones who pull out the feathers and bite the hen when mating. So, they probably won’t hurt each other. I don’t think one of them pretends to be the Drake.

 

[DuckyDonna]

Your hen ducks will not make any progress if they try mating. If you want them to mate and raise ducklings, I would get another Drake. I wouldn’t really call it them turning gay though, more like doesn’t have anyone to mate with but wants kid. So, maybe I would call it broody.

My duck are SO not broody but I guess they are just used to Daisy or Sheldon mating with them and now there is none.

 

[DuckyDonna]

If you have a female that ends up getting picked on now that the drake isn't around, or one that acts out more and is a bully, there could be an issue. The flock dynamics might change now that the drake is gone and you'll just have to watch carefully as they adjust and make sure they all play nice.

thank you. I will watch carefully. I often sit in the run and watch the interactions

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

If you want them to mate again, I would suggest maybe getting a Drake for them to mate with the opposite ex if you don’t want them mating with each other.