How much should we manage duck mating?

[cflory]

I have raised small groups of ducks for a few years and am always disturbed by how drakes mate. I have one drake with four hens that is on the smaller side and not as aggressive as other drakes I’ve had. Sometimes I wonder though, when he chases them, and they sometimes don’t want to mate, if being forced is a big deal to them. They act like it is, but I also understand that we as humans tend to view it the same way we view human consent which is way different. It is in the mallard species’ favor that males have aggressive traits, and nature does not have moral laws, but as caregivers of these animals, how much should we be responsible for? I intentionally only have one drake with the hens, and I try to keep the ratio evened out, but there’s still going to be times when one of the hens does not want to mate and the drake does. As we all know, similar situations with chickens happen all the time. I’m just curious what other people have to say about this because it’s something I can’t wrap my head around, and drakes are just so mean!

 

[Jenbirdee]

It helps a little if you have more females right now I have one Drake with 13 girls. And I also have four more girls, but those are 11 years old and I keep them separate because they really really don’t like the Drake lol
Until recently, I had two drakes and I love them both, but the older one was less aggressive so I rehomed the younger one because they were ganging up on one of my duck hens - which can be dangerous, especially in the pool, sometimes the girls get drowned.
When I first got Ducks about 12 years ago, My daughter still lived at home and was a teenager. She would run out in the yard, screaming and yelling at the Drake every time she saw him trying to hold a girl down, especially under the water.
If I’m out there and see activity that looks unwanted, I will usually spray them with the hose if I have it available to break them up but most of the time I’m not there so., they do what they do. I just feel more comfortable now only having one Drake , with a lot of girls.

 

[cflory]

It helps a little if you have more females right now I have one Drake with 13 girls. And I also have four more girls, but those are 11 years old and I keep them separate because they really really don’t like the Drake lol
Until recently, I had two drakes and I love them both, but the older one was less aggressive so I rehomed the younger one because they were ganging up on one of my duck hens - which can be dangerous, especially in the pool, sometimes the girls get drowned.
When I first got Ducks about 12 years ago, My daughter still lived at home and was a teenager. She would run out in the yard, screaming and yelling at the Drake every time she saw him trying to hold a girl down, especially under the water.
If I’m out there and see activity that looks unwanted, I will usually spray them with the hose if I have it available to break them up but most of the time I’m not there so., they do what they do. I just feel more comfortable now only having one Drake , with a lot of girls.

Thanks for your response. I think that’s a good idea to just have a lot of hens. I’m likely going to get more because I’ve realized how much more practical they are than chickens in the winter and what great layers they are. Seriously, besides the drake issues, ducks are very underrated

 

[Vicker]

We used to have 30 ducks, 2 being drakes. They'd both get on one female in the middle of the stock tank where I couldn't do a thing to save her. I was afraid they'd drown her. Now with just chickens, I don't like to see my one rooster start chasing hens as soon as their feet hit the ground in the morning. They're clearly not receptive. I think it's stressful to them. He's still young, so I'm hoping he cools his jets over time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

LOL I have the opposite problem I have 1 Runner drake and 13 females this poor guy never gets a break those girls are always in his face bobbing their heads and after him.

I have a Muscovy drake and he has 3 Muscovy females I have to keep them separated from the rest of the flock because even though my Runner drake has 13 females after him he still goes after the Muscovy and they do not like him at all. The Muscovy drake has never even looked at my other females or went after them.

 

[cflory]

We used to have 30 ducks, 2 being drakes. They'd both get on one female in the middle of the stock tank where I couldn't do a thing to save her. I was afraid they'd drown her. Now with just chickens, I don't like to see my one rooster start chasing hens as soon as their feet hit the ground in the morning. They're clearly not receptive. I think it's stressful to them. He's still young, so I'm hoping he cools his jets over time.

Yeah it’s stressful! Age does help! With my chickens, I’ve enjoyed having a 9 yr old rooster who’s too old to mate. He doesn’t give the girls a hard time because he’s so dang old. But he still holds is protective role. Only issue is he’s infertile

 

[cflory]

LOL I have the opposite problem I have 1 Runner drake and 13 females this poor guy never gets a break those girls are always in his face bobbing their heads and after him.

I have a Muscovy drake and he has 3 Muscovy females I have to keep them separated from the rest of the flock because even though my Runner drake has 13 females after him he still goes after the Muscovy and they do not like him at all. The Muscovy drake has never even looked at my other females or went after them.

That’s a great problem to have haha. Maybe you need to breed that drake to try and get offspring that’s gentle. I’d love for there to be a breed that has had those nasty drake instincts bred out.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had his Dad until last spring when he passed and he was the same way. Other than the Muscovy he was always a good boy when mating.

I started out with Muscovy and boy did he make me nervous when he would jump on one of his girls in the pool and hold her head under. But thank the Lord he never drown one.

I think the point here is to have as many females as you can care for with your drake, will even it out, he'll be too worn out to do much harm lol

 

[TJAnonymous]

I have 10 females and 1 drake. Even having more girls, my drake has certain hens he likes to target... Even when those girls don't want his attention and others are willfully neglected. When he gets too aggressive, I separate him for a month or two. It really stresses him out but I hate seeing 2 or 3 of my girls with bald heads because he won't spread the love.