Male Duck killed my injured duck by trying to breed her as her neck is broken

[GratitudeGates]

We have a beautiful cayuga male duck who is very busy these days last night I put them all away <Male and two Females in their night cage this morning I woke to her laying on her side feathers from her neck all around her and she passed away.

The male is very bold and has chased me down daily to protect the girls which is his job the female he killed was Daffodil and she was healing from bumble foot which was caught at first site.
Nolan up alone as he goes after the girls like crazy and Lilly has had a hurt foot in the past and I do not want him jumping her. And Dandi-Lion had a baby we let her keep two eggs and she is in a separate pen because when I have watched the male duck Nolan he just slapped the 3 week old baby to the ground with his beak so we are not allowing him to be around the baby. So when mom Dandi-Lion and baby come out to run the yard for a hour or so I lock all the others up.

My question is this just a seasonal moment in time for him or should I just find a home for him? Daffodil was such a lovely talkative girl I feel like this is my fault for leaving her in the cage with him they normally all get a long but he is super in the mood right now and I found her neck bent odd and feathers all around her.

 

[Latestarter]

I don't know much about ducks... Sorry you lost the one girl to an S&M drake. IMHO and from my reading, I would suggest the soup pot for the overzealous drake and replacement. He's not going to change. Or get him more girls to occupy his time. Duck mating can be a pretty mean affair.

 

[GratitudeGates]

Right now I have him sleeping outside the pen and the baby and mom in another pen and poor Lilly is missing her friend.... sooo I am trying to figure a way to rotate them until I can find a home for him. Thanks for reply I just do not want any more of my girls to get hurt I still feel horrible.

 

[TSOWOATNKC]

Here's something to consider; sexual aggression is thought to be an inherited trait. Do you want your future drakes to behave in this manner?

I personally send my overaggressive drakes to freezer camp or the smoker. There are too many great drakes out there to keep on out of sentimentality.

 

[GratitudeGates]

Update - Because Nolan has never shown himself to be mean before what I have done is separate everyone. Miss Lilly has her own coop and the Baby Pansy and his.her mom Dandi-Lion are in the main coop and I have allowed Nolan to roam the yard. He sleeps right by the others we have a cam set up so we can watch. Things seem calm so I started to let Lilly out and I watch her with Nolan and things have been very calm and yes mating in the pool happens but nothing unusual. The baby and mom are in coop and I plan on waiting for another 4-5 weeks (baby is 3 wks) now so I will wait and then intro Lilly to them in person then after that is working then Nolan will be the last unless he shows himself to be bad. He had never really been abusive to the girls so I am watching every moment. I hope he is a good boy and Lilly misses her friend Daffodil so much.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Update - Because Nolan has never shown himself to be mean before what I have done is separate everyone. Miss Lilly has her own coop and the Baby Pansy and his.her mom Dandi-Lion are in the main coop and I have allowed Nolan to roam the yard. He sleeps right by the others we have a cam set up so we can watch. Things seem calm so I started to let Lilly out and I watch her with Nolan and things have been very calm and yes mating in the pool happens but nothing unusual. The baby and mom are in coop and I plan on waiting for another 4-5 weeks (baby is 3 wks) now so I will wait and then intro Lilly to them in person then after that is working then Nolan will be the last unless he shows himself to be bad. He had never really been abusive to the girls so I am watching every moment. I hope he is a good boy and Lilly misses her friend Daffodil so much.

With all due respect are you 100% sure she died through being mated, or that the drake had been aggressive? I just ask because you have stated in the title she was already injured and I'm just wondered if death befell her because she was injured or weak from her injury maybe - just is what you are describing about Nolan doesn't come across as aggressive nor anything other than normal really.

 

[True Patriot]

First, I'm sorry to hear that you lost Daffodil. It's never easy.
The Drake is going to be a continuing problem. Personally he would have been invited to dinner as soon as he became aggressive towards humans. But I understand that not everyone feels how I do. Things you need to seriously consider. He is aggressive, I can't absolutely confirm he was the cause of Daffodils death. But there is a strong case for it. He has been aggressive towards you. He has been aggressive towards the ducklings. To me there is no evidence that says he's a keeper. As stated by @TSOWOATNKC the aggression will most likely be passed along to his offspring. So to me it's another reason he should go.
Now the hard part. I absolutely do not agree or recommend rehoming any animal for this reason. To me giving or selling a known aggressor is doing disservice to the recipient. You put any future flock mates in the same peril that you are trying to remove from your flock. In my opinion, you should cull. After losing one I really don't want to burden you further, but this is never going to be an easy decision. I'm truly sorry for your loss.

 

[GratitudeGates]

With all due respect are you 100% sure she died through being mated, or that the drake had been aggressive? I just ask because you have stated in the title she was already injured and I'm just wondered if death befell her because she was injured or weak from her injury maybe - just is what you are describing about Nolan doesn't come across as aggressive nor anything other than normal really.

Well she had bumblefoot but I caught it very early I do think she could not get away from him and fought him as his weight may have added pressure on her foot. I am not sure what happened because I did not see it but I saw feathers from her neck all around her and I know he bites her neck. He does the same with Lilly but when she has had enough she is a pekin as was Daffodil and both big enough to get away from him I just think nature can be cruel and he took advantage of the fact she could not run.

 

[GratitudeGates]

First, I'm sorry to hear that you lost Daffodil. It's never easy.
The Drake is going to be a continuing problem. Personally he would have been invited to dinner as soon as he became aggressive towards humans. But I understand that not everyone feels how I do. Things you need to seriously consider. He is aggressive, I can't absolutely confirm he was the cause of Daffodils death. But there is a strong case for it. He has been aggressive towards you. He has been aggressive towards the ducklings. To me there is no evidence that says he's a keeper. As stated by @TSOWOATNKC the aggression will most likely be passed along to his offspring. So to me it's another reason he should go.
Now the hard part. I absolutely do not agree or recommend rehoming any animal for this reason. To me giving or selling a known aggressor is doing disservice to the recipient. You put any future flock mates in the same peril that you are trying to remove from your flock. In my opinion, you should cull. After losing one I really don't want to burden you further, but this is never going to be an easy decision. I'm truly sorry for your loss.

I really appreciate your knowledge and I agree with most of what you have said actually all of what you have said. I am watching very closely and if I find I need to protect all I will take that step I am talking with a person who told me where to take to butcher him. I am hoping I do not have to but I will if I see any further aggression and I do feel he is snippy with me and I am watching that as well I know he thinks he is protecting his flock but I will pay close attention to the first time he isn't protecting them. I am hearing you I am.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Well she had bumblefoot but I caught it very early I do think she could not get away from him and fought him as his weight may have added pressure on her foot. I am not sure what happened because I did not see it but I saw feathers from her neck all around her and I know he bites her neck. He does the same with Lilly but when she has had enough she is a pekin as was Daffodil and both big enough to get away from him I just think nature can be cruel and he took advantage of the fact she could not run.

So sorry you had to go through all of this - I can only imagine how awful it was for you to have woken to find her dead and on top of all this you are now faced with the prospects of maybe losing your drake too - so sorry for you and for your loss