Louie and Zeke started fighting

[WickedChicksNH]

I thought I was going to be lucky and thought my drake's were not going to fight, they have always got along, Well went to close up the coop today, my Roosters started with each other, Louie and Zeke started. My roo's were just more of Bob telling Jinx who's the head Male.
But Louie and Zeke. I actually separated them.
Louie is my black Swedish and has always been the more un-trusting one, and Zeke my Rouen he has always seemed like the boss.

Well it looked to me like Louie had the upper "hand" in this squabble, grabbing Zeke's head and what not. Zeke didn't back down, It wasn't so bad it scared me, they weren't making any noises just pulling each others heads and chests.
Zeke would then start pushing Sally my 3 year old NH red hen around. like actually pushing her with his bill, and shoving his bill into her feathers and side, he wasn't hurting her though. then he started with the Roo's pushing them in the butt, (they are just little bantams), they were standing up higher so they were a little above eye level to Zeke but he stretched his neck to poke them.

I picked up Zeke put him on my lap, usually he is like no thank you. but he sat there, he wanted to get down but didn't put up a fight or anything, this happened like 3 times. I picked up Louie who haaaaates being touched, he sat there wanting to get down but again he didn't put up a fight with me

usually when my hand goes near them without food they are like eww no thank you human. but this time it is like they forgot they don't like being touched, Louie has always seemed a little more feisty even though he was quiet.

I am hoping this is just them trying to figure out male dominance and it doesn't get serious.. they are after all at that age.

I have too many males in my coops. 2 roos 2 drakes, 1 hen and 2 female ducks. all males hitting puberty.

I don't want to have to get rid of any of them

I have some eggs (3 chickens 2 duck, but I don't think the ducks are fertile) in the incubator right now, I am hoping they are hens.

Is there anything I should do or for now let boys be boys are they are not actually out of control right now

thanks all

 

[DuckyDonna]

I hate to say it but you might have to get rid of one of your drakes. I don't know about chickens/roosters so I have nothing to say about that. I hatched 2 drakes last spring that spent their whole lives doing everything together and then suddenly one day one of them started acting a fool and going after his brother that he'd loved all his life. I tried separating them but the second he got back near his brother it was awful. I finally put him on Craig's list and he got a great new home and a girl friend but it was crazy how one minute it was fine and then it wasn't! Try separating them. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Why not put all the males in a separate coop? Without access to the hens, they would calm down a lot. I know it works for roosters, though I've never tried it with ducks.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

I was thinking maybe finding a good home for my black swedish Louie.
Right now they are all creating that extra body heat the coop

I have also thought about putting them in their separate pen. But I would rather have Louie have a nice home with pretty ladies and lots of room to run

Thanks all

 

[sylviethecochin]

Drakes will almost always scuffle/fight in breeding season, presence of ducks or no. They're more seasonally oriented than chickens are, IME.

 

[sourland]

Hormones are rising, and fights will continue. Watch closely that your drakes do not start breeding your chicken hen with possible resultant injury and death. In the name of safety, I would separate the drakes from the flock.

 

[WickedChicksNH]

Hormones are rising, and fights will continue. Watch closely that your drakes do not start breeding your chicken hen with possible resultant injury and death. In the name of safety, I would separate the drakes from the flock.

Oh good lord didn't even take that in to consideration.. lucky though Sally knows how to get up high and hold her own
I have plenty of high roosts in the coop hope that helps her

 

[sourland]

Oh good lord didn't even take that in to consideration.. lucky though Sally knows how to get up high and hold her own
I have plenty of high roosts in the coop hope that helps her

She'll have to come down to eat and drink.

 

[chickens really]

Simple answer..They are Drakes and won't get along anymore..

 

[WickedChicksNH]

She'll have to come down to eat and drink.

I actually have the chickens food and water higher up on their own platform the ducks cant reach