Mating loss

[HomesteadDeb]

So I came out this morning and found one of my young hens drowned in the pool. No marks on her other than missing some feathers off the back of wings, and I strongly suspect since everyone else is fine and I see no sign of a critter getting in that one if my drakes might have drowned her trying to mate.
I think it is my fault because I didn't fully fill the pool yesterday, so there wasn't enough water under her for her to get out from under him, but certainly enough for him to drown her
My question is, best way to prevent this is the future? They currently have a pool that is roughly 14 inches deep, a kiddy pool about 8 inches deep, and multiple rubber feed pans of water to drink/splash in. Am I better off just to empty the large pool for now, or just separate the drakes until they can be rehomed?
Not planning to keep any of the boys as they are all related so don't want them breeding.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That is very sad so sorry. How many drakes do you have and females. Drakes will gang up on a female and drown her in a pool So separating your drakes from your females would be best.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Sorry to hear this. Drakes can be very persistent when those hormones are raging. I agree, separate the drakes since you will be rehoming them.

 

[HomesteadDeb]

Unfortunately hatched 9 and 5 were drakes! And now one less hen my first time raising ducks so I wasn't sure when to expect this kind of behavior to start. The drakes may have to go live with my goose until they are rehomed, she will certainly keep them in check.

 

[Regina Larsen]

So I came out this morning and found one of my young hens drowned in the pool. No marks on her other than missing some feathers off the back of wings, and I strongly suspect since everyone else is fine and I see no sign of a critter getting in that one if my drakes might have drowned her trying to mate.
I think it is my fault because I didn't fully fill the pool yesterday, so there wasn't enough water under her for her to get out from under him, but certainly enough for him to drown her
My question is, best way to prevent this is the future? They currently have a pool that is roughly 14 inches deep, a kiddy pool about 8 inches deep, and multiple rubber feed pans of water to drink/splash in. Am I better off just to empty the large pool for now, or just separate the drakes until they can be rehomed?
Not planning to keep any of the boys as they are all related so don't want them breeding.

My drakes were kept in bachelor quarters bc of hen injuries. Duck mating can be brutal.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Be sure to keep an eye on those boys and your goose. They may gang up on her.