Okay.....someone tell me this is "normal"

[Blondiega1]

It might be totally unfeasible but...can you fence them a little run that goes a little way into the lake? Then they could swim and the overzealous drake can see them without accosting them?

Otherwise I would give them more time and make sure they had a place to go where they felt safe from the male.

Not a bad idea actually.
It's a 5 acre lake, so he does go away and do his little ducky thing and the girls stay up here.
It's like they are scared to go to the water.
They can get up under house and in the bushes right now to escape him, and they are still coming in at night.
I'm going to try feeding them REALLY REALLY close to the water this evening.

 

[Blondiega1]

What is Pekin duck breeding season?
Do they go for it all year long?
Or is there a time when our drake will give the girls a break?

 

[Blondiega1]

Anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Anyone?

If your in South GA. you may have breeding season all year but it will probably calm down as the year goes on, We are in the mountains of NC and have Muscovies they started mating early this year in early March but usually don't start till April and end up the breeding season in late September. The warm weather so early had them going on the mating early.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Most LF ducks are not seasonal breeders, so yes you will have breeding most of the year, if not all year. (minus molt and super cold)

Ducks that are seasonal are: ornamental ducks (migratory like wood, mallard ect), Muscovy, and call ducks.

 

[Blondiega1]

If your in South GA. you may have breeding season all year but it will probably calm down as the year goes on, We are in the mountains of NC and have Muscovies they started mating early this year in early March but usually don't start till April and end up the breeding season in late September. The warm weather so early had them going on the mating early.

I'm actually in North Ga. Just west of Atlanta.
Thank you for the reply!

Most LF ducks are not seasonal breeders, so yes you will have breeding most of the year, if not all year. (minus molt and super cold)
Ducks that are seasonal are: ornamental ducks (migratory like wood, mallard ect), Muscovy, and call ducks.

Thanks!


Poor girls are terrified of him.

 

[Blondiega1]

Had some success last night by feeding them at the water.

We are going to rebuild or ducky temporary section 8 housing down at the lake's edge with a run out in to the water.
My hope is this will get the babies used to the lake now and the bigger girls, will want to stay with the babies and learn to stay down by the water.
I just hope Jmatt leaves them alone some.
I've but the girls back in the pen because he was harrassing them so much!

 

[sourland]

It would probably be a good idea to allow the hens to mature before reintroducing them to the drake. Once mature they will be more welcoming of his advances and far less likely to be drowned or injured.

 

[Blondiega1]

It would probably be a good idea to allow the hens to mature before reintroducing them to the drake. Once mature they will be more welcoming of his advances and far less likely to be drowned or injured.

Thank you!
What would be a good age do you think?

Right now the ladies are still in the pen away from him.

 

[Kevin565]

If he's an aggressive breeder I probably wouldn't put them out any earlier than 20 weeks