Need help please duck club members

[Bayoudave]

hello members-just recently joined the club this morning

really need some advice on what to do. Last year bought some pekins from this site for our lake and only one female and 3 males survived. as u can guess, female is getting abused so we decided to purchase 3 adult females from a farmer who was posting on craigs list.

the farmer, who was well aware of my situation, selected the three females for me and told me that these ducks would just assimilate with the 3 males and there would be no special needs required.

ok fine. got the new females home and brought them to the lake and they went right into the water. seconds later, here come the 3 male ducks swimming like they were escaping from an alligator.

When the males reached our new females, it was at this point we realized that these "adult" ducks were not quite ready for these adult males. In fact, one of my new females is smaller than her sisters and the 3 males all got on top of her and held that baby under the water so long that I thought I was going to have to jump in the water and rescue that duck. When she finally came up, she somehow made it to shore and I could see skin showing on the back of her neck where the males had "beaked" or do we say "bitten"? I just knew that she was not going to survive and the other 2 females were not doing that good either.

Now, before you laugh at me because you are visualizing a grown man jumping in the water to save a duck from another duck, you have to understand that I am a city boy raised with concrete under my feet. I dont know what the heck was going on.

Yes I was raised in Louisiana but despite what you see and read in the media, we dont all live on the water, hunt alligators, and have shrimp boats. We do go to college and become doctors, lawyers, engineers, and professors like me, Even though we raised the first batch, I still am a rookie at all this and shall we say a "duck out of water" when it comes to the knowledge you guys have.

So here is where you guys can help me. So I gathered new females up (no I didnt jump in the water) and brought them back to the house and put them in the garage. These ducks are supposedly 6 months old but I think it will take another two months for them to grow to the size they need to survive. So my question are:

1. do i call the farmer back and tell her to take the ducks back until they are bigger?
2. do i capture two males so that there is only one male at the lake and release the 3 females
3. do i just raise the new female ducks until they are bigger? (which we dont really have to time to do, but will if we have too)
4. is there some more options I have not thought about?

I thank you all in advance for your answers, suggestions, and advice.

Bayou Dave

 

[Miss Lydia]

hello members-just recently joined the club this morning

really need some advice on what to do. Last year bought some pekins from this site for our lake and only one female and 3 males survived. as u can guess, female is getting abused so we decided to purchase 3 adult females from a farmer who was posting on craigs list.

the farmer, who was well aware of my situation, selected the three females for me and told me that these ducks would just assimilate with the 3 males and there would be no special needs required.

ok fine. got the new females home and brought them to the lake and they went right into the water. seconds later, here come the 3 male ducks swimming like they were escaping from an alligator.

When the males reached our new females, it was at this point we realized that these "adult" ducks were not quite ready for these adult males. In fact, one of my new females is smaller than her sisters and the 3 males all got on top of her and held that baby under the water so long that I thought I was going to have to jump in the water and rescue that duck. When she finally came up, she somehow made it to shore and I could see skin showing on the back of her neck where the males had "beaked" or do we say "bitten"? I just knew that she was not going to survive and the other 2 females were not doing that good either.

Now, before you laugh at me because you are visualizing a grown man jumping in the water to save a duck from another duck, you have to understand that I am a city boy raised with concrete under my feet. I dont know what the heck was going on.

Yes I was raised in Louisiana but despite what you see and read in the media, we dont all live on the water, hunt alligators, and have shrimp boats. We do go to college and become doctors, lawyers, engineers, and professors like me, Even though we raised the first batch, I still am a rookie at all this and shall we say a "duck out of water" when it comes to the knowledge you guys have.

So here is where you guys can help me. So I gathered new females up (no I didnt jump in the water) and brought them back to the house and put them in the garage. These ducks are supposedly 6 months old but I think it will take another two months for them to grow to the size they need to survive. So my question are:

1. do i call the farmer back and tell her to take the ducks back until they are bigger?
2. do i capture two males so that there is only one male at the lake and release the 3 females
3. do i just raise the new female ducks until they are bigger? (which we dont really have to time to do, but will if we have too)
4. is there some more options I have not thought about?

I thank you all in advance for your answers, suggestions, and advice.

Bayou Dave

I like option 2 maybe your farmer would like another drake? 2 drakes is not good news for ducks as you found out the hard way, and Pekins are notorious for their sexual prowness and thank goodness they didn't drown that poor duck, is there anyway you can have your ducks in a pen so the drakes and ducks can get use to each other but the drakes can't get to the girls? and what about the original duck how are they treating her. I'm sure her life right now probably isn't so good either, I am having to separate my girls from my drakes several hrs a day now just to give the girls a bit of a rest, and I have 10 ducks to 3 drakes

The boys can't help themselves but it sure wears the girls down. Maybe giving the girls a bit of time to acclimate to their surroundings and the drakes and get some age on them will help, but those drakes will be relentless in their persuit. It's suggested at least 3-4 ducks per drake for health of ducks. Glad you found us and hope you can get it sorted out.

 

[carcar80]

I will just add, as far as the mating, a male will hold a female underwater for an uncomfortable amount of time. But I've never personally seen any bad outcome from this. It's just what they do. However I have not noticed any of my females with breaks in the skin. Ouch!

Good luck whatever you decide, and WELCOME TO BYC!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will just add, as far as the mating, a male will hold a female underwater for an uncomfortable amount of time. But I've never personally seen any bad outcome from this. It's just what they do. However I have not noticed any of my females with breaks in the skin. Ouch!

Good luck whatever you decide, and WELCOME TO BYC!!!

Drakes have been known to drown ducks though especially when they gang up on them. and i know what you mean, first time I saw my drake with the duck held under water I just about freaked out.

 

[Amiga]

Bayou Dave,

Glad you joined us here on the Duck Forum.

Gotta tell ya, I am one of a number of very duck-protective members, here, so that's where I am coming from.

And I like people, too.

Okay.

Take a deep breath. I am going to share how I would approach the situation from my priorities.

First, I would definitely keep the girls away from the boys for now.

I would set up a safe day pen for the girls. I mean safe. Girls only. Fence top, bottom and sides. Roomy. Cushy, even. 25 sf per bird. Kiddie pool. Section with a roof, for the food and water. And I would make sure they have safe, comfy night shelter, too. Very secure. Hardware cloth. Electric fence, maybe. Or the laundry room in the house (just a suggestion - some do this).

I am guessing that "survived" means predator attacks? You can see from my comments already that I work to avoid predator attacks. Why should people have ducks just to become chum for predators? Well, some do.

All the ducks need secure shelter, at least at nighttime, when the predators tend to come around. They come in the day, too, I know. But many allow their ducks to free range during the day. Many lose ducks that way.

Rule of thumb, drakes need three to six ducks (females) each. Your guys, I feel, are competing with each other. Hopping on a duck is more than just about sex. It's about territory. And your guys seem to be very competitive, trying to prove whose territory that duck is. Ducks and drakes have individual personalities. Some boys are sweet and protective.

A drake pen is a really good idea for your situation, I feel. Keep it fifty feet minimum and at best, obscured from sight of the girls. When distanced from the girls, they may behave pretty well. It may just be needed in spring when hormones rage.

A less complicated solution would be to rehome the girls to a place where they will be cared for and protected. Then just have boys to enjoy on the lake. I would still protect the rascals at night. You might be a godsend in the future, to someone with too many drakes. You could have a boys' club. Some folks do that, and like the results.

Please stay in touch. Glad you are trying to sort things out. Hang in there and please, please, protect the girls. Their lives depend on you.

And I was raised a city kid, too.

 

[carcar80]

Miss Lydia- absolutely. I agree that three is ridiculous and could have done great harm. I've never had to deal with that. I did want him to know that it is surprising how long they can stay underwater, where we watch and get uncomfy. Heck I've seen one of my females go under on her OWN during mating sillies and come up on the other side of the pond! LOL.

 

[carcar80]

Amiga- question. Do you like ducks penned up, even where there is a large enough body of water for them to escape/elude a predator? I personally would be very uncomfortable with mine penned up, because then they are confined to one area and if a predator does happen to get in, they're toast no matter what. Now if I didn't have water, I would never keep ducks just for that reason. But that's just me.

Devil's advocate here. I just don't feel like all uncaged ducks are "chum".. mine certainly aren't thought of that way. I do believe they will either "sink or swim" when they come of age, but that doesn't mean I don't care for them. But then it sounds like we had very different upbringings too.

Internet "inflection" can be hard to interpret and I wouldn't ask this if I didn't think you'd know how to take it.. it's an honest question. I've gotten great advice from you and really enjoy reading your posts so please take this for what it is.. just a question.

 

[Amiga]

carcar80,

I did use some loaded language, there, with some intention. It was meant to convey the strength of my feelings. And mine aren't the only valid feelings. We each need to do what's best and right, the way we see it. I rejoice when we protect the ducks. Many forum members, and other friends of mine are more concerned with allowing the ducks to roam free at least during the day. So there we have it, each of us offering our viewpoints and experience. One is tortured by the thought of an imprisoned duck, one is tortured by the thought of an animal they have cared for all their lives being ripped up.

My concerns are not a guarantee there won't be a breach in security, and end up with ducks being trapped. Most domestic ducks cannot fly, and some predators are built for speed - faster than a duck, open water or no.

And I can tell from the way you write that you care very much for you ducks - no accusations otherwise. Ain't it something, how different we all are, but still helping each other out? I like that about the Duck Forum.

 

[carcar80]

I love it. Fantastic reply. I had my fingers crossed. Thanks so much for your honesty.

And I agree, I do think more of my flightless Pekins' safety but they play it very safe so far. And my fear of trapped prey does in fact override my fear of free-range attack. Mallards can fly like nobody's business and it does add an edge in comparison to flightless breeds.

Again, thank you. How refreshing to find someone else who can accept others' view even though they may not share it. I certainly respect yous.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Bayou Dave-- I vote for the drake pen, and possibly rehoming one. You may have 2 drakes that just aren't mild enough to live together. I personally have 2, but only 1 is interested in all the Ladies, the other seems bonded to one. Then again, I also have a pair of females raising 3 ducklings that I gave them to adopt, and one duck that seems to have quit laying and looks like she might be changing, so maybe you don't want advice from me! LOL
The advice you've been given is good and I applaud you for asking questions and trying to figure it all out. Ultimately you will find what will work for your flock. What works for one wont necessarily work for others. You could always just lock up just your offender, too. I used a technique, (sorry I can't remember whose technique it was) where when you see the aggression, you basically "mount" your drake, gently hold his head down for a few seconds, say "no". The idea was to make him understand he isn't the boss... The drake I did that to is my mild, sweet drake now. Try searching for that one. if ducks can be taught tricks, then I think they learn simple things like where is the pond and stuff like that. But they are animals and biology will rule.
One last thing, the 2 adult Pekins that I adopted last year, when I got them, they both had bloody raw necks from being around too many aggressive drakes. Not a feather on either of their necks and it took a long time for feathers to grow back. In retrospect, I should have put ointment on them.