How to keep drakes happy

[TwoDogFarm]

We've got two Khaki Campbell drakes who love to mate with the ladies. They had gotten so bad that we decided a few months ago that we would create a drake pen just for them. The flock's run area is some chain link dog kennels with roofs so the drakes are separated from the girls by a chain link panel. We thought that way if they could see them, they may be okay. The problem though has been that they can't get mating off their mind and I don't think they're happy. Just in the last few weeks, they have started wearing down a path along the chain link where they run back and forth, trying to get to them. The girls like to tease them as well, which doesn't help. I read that the mating season runs from Feb to Sept.

I had wondered what would happen if we put something more solid between them where they can't see them, but I worry they may die of a deeper depression. I've just got to do something else to make them happy. Does anyone have any suggestions on either how to calm down their urges where we can let them live with the girls again or to keep them happy being in their own enclosure?

Aside from the over mating behavior, they are extremely good drakes and I would really love to let them stay with the girls.

Thanks.

 

[KatieLoo]

We've got two Khaki Campbell drakes who love to mate with the ladies. They had gotten so bad that we decided a few months ago that we would create a drake pen just for them. The flock's run area is some chain link dog kennels with roofs so the drakes are separated from the girls by a chain link panel. We thought that way if they could see them, they may be okay. The problem though has been that they can't get mating off their mind and I don't think they're happy. Just in the last few weeks, they have started wearing down a path along the chain link where they run back and forth, trying to get to them. The girls like to tease them as well, which doesn't help. I read that the mating season runs from Feb to Sept.

I had wondered what would happen if we put something more solid between them where they can't see them, but I worry they may die of a deeper depression. I've just got to do something else to make them happy. Does anyone have any suggestions on either how to calm down their urges where we can let them live with the girls again or to keep them happy being in their own enclosure?

Aside from the over mating behavior, they are extremely good drakes and I would really love to let them stay with the girls.

Thanks.

How many females do you have?

 

[needlessjunk]

They need to not be able to see and if possible hear the females. Seeing them everyday is not going to be a permanent solution. What you are trying to do it create 2 flocks that don't interact with eachother. Would be adding more females be an option? I had 2 males before I had females and they were great and a very happy flock, but they didn't have any females at all around.

 

[TwoDogFarm]

How many females do you have?

We actually have 15 females total, but these are also not the only drakes we have. They're just the ones causing problems lately.

 

[TwoDogFarm]

They need to not be able to see and if possible hear the females. Seeing them everyday is not going to be a permanent solution. What you are trying to do it create 2 flocks that don't interact with eachother. Would be adding more females be an option? I had 2 males before I had females and they were great and a very happy flock, but they didn't have any females at all around.

Hmm...our females are pretty vocal. Lol. And very loud. It might be chalenging to keep them far enough away to not hear them. Would it be enough to keep them from seeing them? Or is that a disaster waiting to happen?

We are actually at capacity right now with the number we can have--and over capacity with the drake number--8 total (long story lol). I've considered rehoming some of my drakes, but I am very particular with my ducks and I worry I will be sending them to someone's dinner table, especially if I send the drakes alone. They're great drakes though and I can't do that to them. Just trying to come up with a solution to keep everyone and still keep them happy.