Is Goonie Bear Depressed?

[Goat_Walker]

Ok, so I have this large white muscovy drake named Goonie Bear. SOme of yall know him, some dont.

Well lately ive had to pull him off of a few of my hens. because he is so large he getts them and they get stuck in the mud, like I have to pull them out. And their back and feathers are looking HORRID! So ive had to pull him off the hens and lately I think he might be... depressed.

Ill go out to do a head count and he wont be there, so I have to go look for him. Lately he has been sitting on his own under a tree next to the pen or in the pen on a pile of leaves i raked up for everyone. But either way he is alone and far from the others. When they come back he intergrates well and all, so i dont think its that they are shunning him.

So Im not sure if he is depressed, getting too lazy to walk to the ditch and back , or what! Any suggestions?

Also - even though he has tried, i dont think he has sucessfully mated with the girls. I mean The times he has got them in the grass I watch to see how it plays out, but afer him attempting and failing for five minutes or longer I pull him off. His feet alone take up their entire back and their tails are under his stomach - thats the sie difference.


Now - before anyone suggests I get him some scovie girls - He has THREE! lol

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I vote that he's depressed. Is there water they can go in? I thought ducks could only breed in water anyway.. might give him more of an advantage. how about duck-therapy? Maybe some worms, frozen peas... what about a goose?

 

[lovesduckies]

maybe he needs a cold bath lol

scovies don't need water to mate, or so i've read!! mine mate in the water and in my room hahaha.

i agree with snacks! good idea.. maybe try playing ball with him lol, my drake plays catch with me. he likes it.. i roll the ball to him and he bites it so it comes back HAHAH

 

[Goat_Walker]

He has three large kiddie pools, two regular sized kiddie pools, three random small wallows in the yard, and the water filled ditch. He has plenty of water, plenty of food. If its not fish or baby mice though he isnt very interested in treats. He is out with the others now, but is sitting in the grass rather than in the ditch.

As for mating - Ducks mate wherever they can catch the gals. In the mud, in the grass, in the water, in the feed dish... Yeah, not cool, lol.

I have him up for sale now, since the cons are larger than the pros. Of course I love him, and I dont want to loose my fat boy but - He is too big and rough for my girls, he ruins all their feathers, scatters eggs in nests, ruins nests.. so I just dont feel like I can keep him. He is a sweet boy, eats out of hand, can be held, and greets you at the gate.

Poor fattie...

 

[sourland]

I definately think he is depressed. Arrange a psych evaluation as soon as is possible. Muscovy drakes have the highest incidence of suicide of all breeds.

 

[Goat_Walker]

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