male pekin duck needs mate

[daquilajmd]

I have a male Pekin. He seems to need a mate because he keeps trying to mate with my hens and they are missing feathers on the backs of their necks where he grabs them. I do have a rooster who is a buddy of the duck. LOL! I don't know if the duck really wants to mate or if he's just copying the rooster. If I am able to obtain a female Pekin, how would I introduce her to the flock? Will he attack her or will they?

 

[Amiga]

I might suggest two or three females, so that he doesn't kill her with kindness, if you catch my drift.

Introducing new birds is something that many people do by setting up an area within the pen (need to be predator-resistant, natch), where the new bird or birds can be checked out by, and check out, the current flock. You can see then if there are potential social problems. But in general, ducks seem to like to get along with a flock.

And while they are fine friends with chickens often, ducks, I am told, do seem relieved to have other ducks to hang out with. Maybe it's a language thing, I don't know.

Good that you are thinking ahead!

 

[daquilajmd]

Thank you so much for your response. It was pretty much what I thought. So you think he'll be happy to have a few females and won't be too aggressive? I mean, the chickens are just brutal to new comers. And we do introduce them slowly with the separate cage where they can see and then letting them free-range together and then eventually putting them in the hen house at night, etc. I have a friend who has a couple adult females. She might give them to me.

 

[ConchRepublic]

A male duck will mate with anything with a vent... so I'd suggest 2 or more. If you set up a different pen within sight of the male, he should get used to them over time. Letting them free range together sometimes helps speed along the process, but have to wait for them to realize the area is home. So what you have should work perfectly. He will be a litle touchy at first, but once he realizes they are of the other sex... well he'll be happy as can be and as busy as can be lol.