[[[[[[.........a breed of duck that is medium to large sized, good layers and foragers, and the drakes take care of their girls, and don't attack other males viciously? .............. I am tired of hearing hens crying out all day because they are being pursued relentlessly.......]]]]]]]
Pursuing relentlessly is exactly the way ducks do it. That's the way ducks mate. If the drakes aren't pursuing, the ducks will go and provoke them into pursuing.
For less pursuing per duck, you keep the number of drakes low. That doesn't slow the drakes down, it just spreads the attention out further. Or if you don't want to hatch ducklings, you don't keep any drake at all.
I keep Appleyards and they are excellent layers and very laid back. "Fighting" so far has consisted of leaning against each other and pushing until it is established who is stronger and then it is over. They are also active foragers and great grasshopper control.
I also have Swedish and they are higher energy, lighter weight (medium size), not quite as consistent with the egg laying, although they have been laying all spring. There has been some feather pulling and neck wrestling with the drakes. No actual harm done. Ducks just aren't mean to each other like chickens are. Swedish forage well and are active, so they are great bug control, because they can catch the fast moving bugs.
I am trying to think of any breed of duck that doesn't forage well and eat bugs. I'm drawing a blank. They all forage well and they all eat bugs.
Note: I've had ducks from a hatchery that had miserable temperaments, so it matters a great deal where you get your ducks. For good temperament, go to a breeder who breeds for temperament.
Pursuing relentlessly is exactly the way ducks do it. That's the way ducks mate. If the drakes aren't pursuing, the ducks will go and provoke them into pursuing.
For less pursuing per duck, you keep the number of drakes low. That doesn't slow the drakes down, it just spreads the attention out further. Or if you don't want to hatch ducklings, you don't keep any drake at all.
I keep Appleyards and they are excellent layers and very laid back. "Fighting" so far has consisted of leaning against each other and pushing until it is established who is stronger and then it is over. They are also active foragers and great grasshopper control.
I also have Swedish and they are higher energy, lighter weight (medium size), not quite as consistent with the egg laying, although they have been laying all spring. There has been some feather pulling and neck wrestling with the drakes. No actual harm done. Ducks just aren't mean to each other like chickens are. Swedish forage well and are active, so they are great bug control, because they can catch the fast moving bugs.
I am trying to think of any breed of duck that doesn't forage well and eat bugs. I'm drawing a blank. They all forage well and they all eat bugs.
Note: I've had ducks from a hatchery that had miserable temperaments, so it matters a great deal where you get your ducks. For good temperament, go to a breeder who breeds for temperament.