Mating: is this normal or too much?

[ProudRedneck]

I'm concerned that Daisy is hurting Daffy while mating. I don't know if the results pictured below of Daffy's caruncles is normal/expected injury or is the result of Daisy being too aggressive in action and frequency of mating with her. When he mates her on the ground, he is always grabbing her caruncles instead of further down her neck and I am thinking it's because of how much higher up on her body he mounts while on the ground.

Daffy - Muscovy hen
Daisy - Silver Appleyard drake
Both same age - 7 months old
Have been mating for the last 2 months
I have witnessed Daisy mating 7x in 24 hrs
Most days, Daisy mates 4x - 5x

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yep, those caruncles get in the way they can even grab them around the eye too. I've seen my Muscovy with nipped skin on their faces. The drakes just grab hold of whatever they can. I don't think there is anything you can do except separate them. I only have separated when they got bloody. It's mainly my Runner drake that does this. He is rougher on the Muscovy plus his girls haven't any flesh on their faces .

 

[ProudRedneck]

Ok good to know. I have been letting her have an hour to 1½hr by herself in the mornings outside of the run and some time in the afternoons to relax as well by keeping/puting Daisy back in the run. As a result he freaks the f out if she gets out of his sight. He chases her constantly, won't let her come near us, he started charging us (which leads me to immediately pin him cause I won't tolerate human aggression since we constantly have guests over). He really did turn into a jerk but he's my jerk and I still love him. Even though he keeps her away from us, he escorts her EVERYWHERE and protects her and it's one of the most adorable things I have ever witnessed. He leads her to her previous egg laying spots, he stands guard when she is laying her egg and runs across the yard to protect his eggs...he is just such a great "guy" and loves his girl.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They do take their job very seriously. I love that about them. My Muscovy drake is so laid back he doesn't defend his girls but my Runner drake when he goes into their house in the early evening he must count to make sure they are all inside because if a few are missing he comes to the door and looks for them if he doesn't see then he goes and gets them. They are jerks but like you say they are our jerks. lol

 

[ProudRedneck]

That's so funny you mentioned that your Drake seems to count his hens because I swear Daisy counts the eggs after Daffy goes into the house where her nest is. When she comes out, he goes right in behind her to check on the eggs to see if there's a new one It so cute

 

[Miss Lydia]

They really are a hoot. I don't know how we ever lived without them.
You need to get some pictures of Daisy looking lovingly at his future kids.

 

[ProudRedneck]

Like this?

 

[Miss Lydia]

He maybe talking to them about the birds and the bees