Male Pekin Duck Killed Baby Hen

[HilaryAkin]

Hi Everyone,

My male pekin duck (4.5 months now) has been acting aggressive towards our new baby chicks (2 months now). In an effort to get all our 4 chickens (1 male, 3 female) and 2 ducks (1 male, 1 female) comfortable with our 4 new hens (hopefully), I have made a penned off area in the large run (I think it's called). It's a spot where the older animals can't get to the babies, but they can get familiar with one another. Our male duck and rooster have been hovering around the penned off area with the babies. The male duck seems to be the meanest, always running around it and trying to get to them. Yesterday we went to my sons baseball game only to come home and find one of our babies dead. She must have gotten out of the penned in area somehow and I am thinking the male duck got to her. He had blood all over him. To say I am devastated and traumatized is an understatement. I couldn't sleep last night and have cried all day. I have become attached to all my animals.

Has anyone had this happen? Are male ducks normally this aggressive? I don't know what to do.

Thanks

 

[Jenwisp]

One of our male ducks killed one of our year old hens in a mating attempt.

 

[HilaryAkin]

One of our male ducks killed one of our year old hens in a mating attempt.

What did you do about it?

 

[Jenwisp]

I buried the drake.

We had 3 males for 7 female ducks. not enough females. So I culled the most aggressive.. he was also injuring the ducks. I culled an injured jumbo pekin as well.

1 male duck needs 4-5 females.

 

[Jenwisp]

I hate duck mating season. Our Cayuga mallard mix went from being laid back and turned into a rapist. He was hunting down the females he liked. Our one girl kept getting eye infections and her neck was so bald and raw it was scabbing. We had to put him in timeout at the end so they could have some peace.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Maybe segregate the male duck for now. Or secure the pen for the littles - they can squeeze out of the smallest spaces.

 

[atucker]

my ducks are 8 weeks old and 4 weeks old. I am so not looking forward to my first mating season...