Duckcrazy3
In the Brooder
First I would like to say thanks to this site. Super information that has helped me so much. I am new to having ducks, and was given a drake & hen that were hatched together and are now about 9m, I'm guessing. They were hatched in a school, and are VERY humanized. I was told they were Black Swede/Ancona crosses. She started laying about 1.5 months ago. He has become more aggressive to her, ie: not letting her in pond, pulling out neck feathers, etc. Lots of info I have read says 1 hen is not enough for the male. So I found a new hen, she is approx 1-1.5 yr. She is a Black Swede, and has been raised in a large flock of lots of birds. She is noticably bigger than the other 2. I understood the "pecking order" fights would happen. I didn't realize ducks hold a grudge, much longer than chickens. The original 2 will not allow her anywhere near them, yet she does try to creep into the group. The drake chases her constantly. Now I'm not sure what to do. Should I separate her? They have been together for 4 days with not much improvement. in a 30x33 sq ft run with "outtime" 2-3x a day in the rest of the property about 2/3 of acre total. The first 2 wont leave sight of her when they come out and she will follow them out but runs right back it.
Any suggestions are very appreciated.
Any suggestions are very appreciated.