My drakes are making my hens go bald....any idea what to do?

[chickenlittle1980]

I am having the same problem I have one drake and one duck. he gives it to his mate all the time but one of my poor hens..... gee ...... everybody is together (city flock) Do you think I should make a duck area? I really hate too but my chickens are bald !

This poor hen....was my moms and her drake would not even mate with her duck!

She named her Nacked Neck

I think she has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

 

[MysticalMom]

My duck to drake ratio is good, but I have 1 really aggressive drake, and another one that shows off and acts stupid when he's around him. They're just too hard on my girls and until they learn to be gentlemen this is my solution: I've separated the hard heads into their own pen and I'm letting them out to range in shifts. The ducks that behave get let out in the morning for half the day. Then I pen them and let the hard heads out for the other half. I hate to do it, they're pretty ticked at me right now for keeping them from their girls. But it's their own fault.

 

[Riven]

chickenlittle, if you make a "duck" area he will just ride the hen duck even harder. You will need to seperate him out, get a less aggressive drake, or get several more hens. Aggressive drakes can ride a hen to the point of death, I've seen some ducks in very sad shape because of it. A good ratio depends on the temperament of your drake. Some are happy with one, some need more.

 

[Brickman House]

Quote:
This.

 

[Amiga]

First thing I would do with an aggressive drake is separate him. Right away, no doubt. With proper shelter, feed and water, of course. Then I would have time to decide on how to fix the issue long term, and the females would have a chance to heal. An aggressive drake can be deadly.

 

[Lund Poultry]

I would pull all but one drake out and rotate a different one in each day! Those darn drakes will kill those hens (they don't have any idea they are doing it, but they do)