One duck left out

[amibpoe]

I have 4 welsh harlequins that I hatched myself. There are three males and one female. I know that this will very soon create issues for my flock but at the moment I have one male that the other three are not allowing into the coop at night. I have seen them start to mount the female but she is not old enough to lay eggs yet and I’m not sure that the mating process has been successful, just attempted. All that is backstory and basically my question is, is there a way to include this duck in the flock? I’ve read on other threads about separating the bully but the entire flock seems to be excluding this one particular Drake. It all did start with the female who began the bullying and the other two seem to follow suit.

 

[sourland]

There will always be dominance in a flock. A more likely problem is the overmating and injury of the hen. She is the one that I would be worrying about.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

rehome the hen. the boys don’t need girls, and will be much happier once they she is gone (they won’t fight or bully each other away)

don’t rehome the boys, they are harder to find homes for and people may eat them

 

[amibpoe]

rehome the hen. the boys don’t need girls, and will be much happier once they she is gone (they won’t fight or bully each other away)

don’t rehome the boys, they are harder to find homes for and people may eat them

I have the ability to keep them separate but they would still see each other and be close (separated run). I am assuming this would be a bad idea?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I have the ability to keep them separate but they would still see each other and be close (separated run). I am assuming this would be a bad idea?

that could work. but you would NEED to get the girl another girl as a friend. then the three boys stay together.

 

[LT71689]

I have the ability to keep them separate but they would still see each other and be close (separated run). I am assuming this would be a bad idea?

If the boys can see the girl they will continue to fight. Rehome your girl ASAP. Overmating can happen regardless of her age/laying ability, if they're already trying to mate her shes in danger.

Hopefully once you remove the girl they're fighting over the other boys will accept the one they've been bullying back into the group