My male Pekin turned evil. HELP!

[Mcummings2]

Hey Guys, I need some help...

I have 2 ducks - a male Pekin and female Khaki Campbell duck, both 4 months old and I've had them since they were 1 week old. The male Pekin, Sunny, used to be the most lovable guy ever. He would come up and give hugs and kisses and he loved to be pet and held.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw him mating with the female Khaki Campbell. Ever since then, he has been straight up MEAN and vicious. It's to the point to where no one can even go outside. He chases and bites, hard. I've looked up suggestions online and all I've seen is to try to take control back by either picking him up, or sitting on him until he calms down. Well, he almost never calms down and he is not getting any better. I really don't want to re home them because he used to be such a sweetheart.

Will I ever get my nice duck back? What can I do?

 

[Jpat]

Hold him down till he stops trying. I dont know patients like all of you. Ide have him in the freezer so fast heed still be trying to eat the frozen peas

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hormones. This is what happens when cuddly drakes reach the next stage in life.
Don't feed from your hand anymore and carry a stick to keep him at a distance.
If needed, you can hold him down for a minute or two. I keep a firm hand on my drake's back and a lighter one on his neck. I do it for a min. But, only if he nips at me. Otherwise we are good. My drake only behaves like this in his run. I no longer give him treats out of my hand - probably should have never done so.
If it gets worse, you should think about your next step.
He also needs more females to get rid of his frustrations.

 

[Mcummings2]

Hormones. This is what happens when cuddly drakes reach the next stage in life.
Don't feed from your hand anymore and carry a stick to keep him at a distance.
If needed, you can hold him down for a minute or two. I keep a firm hand on my drake's back and a lighter one on his neck. I do it for a min. But, only if he nips at me. Otherwise we are good. My drake only behaves like this in his run. I no longer give him treats out of my hand - probably should have never done so.
If it gets worse, you should think about your next step.
He also needs more females to get rid of his frustrations.

I've tried all of this, but he will just keep coming back at me and bite my feet or anything he can reach. I really don't want to get more ducks in case it doesn't make any difference with him. I'll have to come up with something.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Use the broom and sweep him away from you or stop him in his tracks I have a big Muscovy drake if I can stop him in his tracks with the broom you can your Pekin but you have to be firm and consistent

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

@Jpat might have the right idea. It might just be freezer camp time.
@Mcummings2 How old is he? How long have you tried all of the techniques?
I am giving my drake a certain amount of time to see if he is going to learn or make it to the dinner table.
One, if he is aggressive I don't want to pass it on if we ever decide to let the girls hatch dome ducklings. Two, it will be a lot less stress for everyone once you get rid of an aggressive animal - I have read it time and time again.
Maybe trade him in for another female if you can only have 2 ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It seems sometimes drakes are destined for freezer camp before they have been given a chance to have better behavior, when my Muscovy drake who was a mamas boy because his original mama rejected him so I became his mama well when he got around 13-14 weeks old he started jumping on my leg or my back if I turned to walk away he never did any sexual moves but his attitude towards me was def sexual, I was panicked the little duckling I loved had changed so I came on here this was over 7 yrs ago and asked what I could do. Well I got a lot of advise from holding him down like another drake would do to out right killing him. Which really wasn’t an option I wanted to show him he could be here live with us but he had to understand he wasn’t going to behave like a crazed drake with me. So I opted to take the advise of some of the educators that were around then. Well I have to say training worked Opie is now 7 yrs old this past June and although he is dominant drake in our flock of misfits he has learned to respect me as leader,that doesn’t mean there isn’t times I have to remind him of his place but it’s not that often.I know everyone doesn’t have a special relationship with their drakes but I say give em a chance if your willing to take the time be consistent And firm. Drakes are a great part of a flock my drakes girls adore him and so do I. I have had many Muscovy drakes over the years since 2004 and have never had one so aggressive he couldn’t learn to behave but it does take time .

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

@Miss Lydia that is why I have a time frame in mind. If my drake gets worse within the time frame, then I will know what to do with him.
So far, he hasn't gotten worse. But, I also observe him a lot and know when he is going to try to nip at me. So, I stop it before it starts. I have also noticed when he is out in the yard, he pretty much leaves me alone. It is like he is territorial and while I am in his area, he wants to be the boss.
You should see him stomp around the inside of the run when I am coming near it.
So far he is only biting my boots and two times at my calf.
There is a member here who put her aggressive pekins down and felt relieved afterwards due to the affect they had on the whole flock. She said afterwards it was a very calm flock. But, they have many more than just 2 ducks.
I would tag them, but not sure how to spell the username - starts with a T.
I do believe that observing the duck and being consistent is the key, but if all else fails there is no sense in continuing with the daily stressors of an aggressive drake.
It really is too bad that the OP cannot get more females as I am almost certain that is the Drake's main issue.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I guess it all matters on how you feel about your birds. I give them time, but I personally am not interested in keeping critters where I have to watch my back or I have to carry a weapon for.

Aggressive male poultry of any species is dangerous, and they take the joy and peace out of a hobby that's supposed to be enjoyable. I have tried myself to correct a few, and have not been successful. It seems becoming too familiar with the males makes them more likely to challenge you at some point. I like for my males to have a healthy respect for me and to stay back.

I personally haven't had much luck turning aggressive males of any species around. A few have but most eventually go in the freezer and I give a nicer critter a chance. Life is too short to be terrorized by poultry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I remember the member talking about her 2 Pekins and the calm after they were gone. I just feel there is hope I am not talking about multiple drakes gang up on females none of my Muscovy drakes have ever ganged up on females they do not do this they would never let another drake even in the pool with them or do they do it on dry ground. When you know your drake is going to be aggressive whether nipping or biting that’s the key stopping it before it starts . Your doing it right. My old drake was such a hoot when I would turn to leave the pen I had him and his girls in he would come stomping behind me but as soon as I would turn around he would stop and look around like What?