How to prevent leg injuries caused by mating?

[apan]

I have an enormous Pekin drake, a Pekin duck, and 4 runner ducks. They are all 5 months old. The last two weeks, I noticed the smallest runner duck limping around. I thought it was a niacin deficiency, so I isolated her and gave her food with brewer's yeast while she recovered.

Shortly after recovery, I noticed her limping again several days later. Earlier in the same day, I observed the Pekin drake mounting her and some of the other ducks. I believe now that this is what is causing the leg injuries.

I'm assuming the answer is "no," but is there anything I can do to keep the ducks from getting injured in this way?

 

[buff goose guy]

I have an enormous Pekin drake, a Pekin duck, and 4 runner ducks. They are all 5 months old. The last two weeks, I noticed the smallest runner duck limping around. I thought it was a niacin deficiency, so I isolated her and gave her food with brewer's yeast while she recovered.

Shortly after recovery, I noticed her limping again several days later. Earlier in the same day, I observed the Pekin drake mounting her and some of the other ducks. I believe now that this is what is causing the leg injuries.

I'm assuming the answer is "no," but is there anything I can do to keep the ducks from getting injured in this way?

It might be that he is too heavy for her, or that she is getting bullied by the other ducks and they are hurting her legs. But another possibility is if there is any debris that they could be tripping over or stepping on.

Have you looked at the bottom of her foot to see if there were any wounds?

 

[apan]

I have inspected her feet and legs many times. There are no visible wounds. All the ducks seems to get along well. The only contact I've observed is the mating, which, given the size of the drake, makes it seem likely that he is too heavy for her and this is causing her leg problems.

If that is the case, is there anything I can do to help? I hate having to isolate her every day and keep her from free-ranging with the others.

 

[buff goose guy]

Hmm I recommend separating the pekins from the runners all together, maybe making a large run or aviary for the pekins and still allowing the runners to free range. Other than doing this I don't see how it could work out, since it seems that the male is too heavy for her he could damage her leg beyond recovery if this continues.

 

[apan]

Thanks for your help!

 

[chickens really]

It does sound like a possible breeding injury? Like a sprain to get away from him...
Mine breed only in the Kiddie pool...My Welsh Drake has tried to breed my Call Duck hen but he has decided she is too much work so breeds my Buff and Pekin/Buff instead....Young Breeding Ducks are very clumsy and the hens are not always willing to be bred...

Once things calm down and everyone matures it usually goes smoothly...

 

[Amiga]

I have an enormous Pekin drake, a Pekin duck, and 4 runner ducks. They are all 5 months old. The last two weeks, I noticed the smallest runner duck limping around. I thought it was a niacin deficiency, so I isolated her and gave her food with brewer's yeast while she recovered.

Shortly after recovery, I noticed her limping again several days later. Earlier in the same day, I observed the Pekin drake mounting her and some of the other ducks. I believe now that this is what is causing the leg injuries.

I'm assuming the answer is "no," but is there anything I can do to keep the ducks from getting injured in this way?

I keep the drake away from the small ducks - in our case, the size difference could be lethal, so I run two flocks.

I know you know this, but for the record - we are responsible to keep every member of the flock safe. Their lives depend on us.

 

[apan]

Thanks, Everyone,

I don't know if it's the "maturity" aspect that one mentioned, or that I added more brewer's yeast to the feed, but the injuries have stopped. Hope this thread is useful to someone else who encounters the issue.

Thanks, all!

 

[caylinbertero]

I have inspected her feet and legs many times. There are no visible wounds. All the ducks seems to get along well. The only contact I've observed is the mating, which, given the size of the drake, makes it seem likely that he is too heavy for her and this is causing her leg problems.

If that is the case, is there anything I can do to help? I hate having to isolate her every day and keep her from free-ranging with the others.

my female duck is going through the same thing her male mate is to heavy for her and I notice it happens when they ar won’t matting in water, I read they need to mate in water cause it’s easier on the females legs

 

[caylinbertero]

my female duck is going through the same thing her male mate is to heavy for her and I notice it happens when they ar won’t matting in water, I read they need to mate in water cause it’s easier on the females legs

sorry I notice her legs bother her when they mate out of water, they need to mate in water it’s to much pressure on her leg I took her an let her be alone a few days to heal and took her out alone I felt bad but the poor girl needed a break from the men they don’t understand the pain it causes the females try keeping a pool out at all times if not already