I have two age groups of ducks. The oldest group of five are three black Swedish hens, a Black Swedish drake (Accolon), and a Blue Swedish drake (Gareth), all March babies. The second group was born in June and consists of five hens- a Khaki Campbell, a Cayuga, and three Welsh Harlequin; and two Welsh Harlequin drakes. The two older boys get along perfectly. They never spat and act as a unit, patrolling and protecting the girls. They never really mate the girls, but it is off-season. The two younger boys got along until just recently. Now, the deeper colored Welsh Harlequin drake I call Amoroc is rivaling with the head hens and giving the two older boys a wary gaze. He chases off the lighter colored Welsh Harlequin boy, Lamorak. The rest of the ducks seem to not care. They form a silent ring around Amoroc when he rivals the head hen and chases girls around, and chases off Lamorak. He grabs the other ducks by the scruff of where their neck meets their back. Initially I thought they he was trying to mate them, but he does it to Lamorak and never does more than just grab them. I think he is trying to be head drake, and is starting with dominating the older girls. But Accolon and Gareth just watch, sitting side-by-side, like they are giving him a chance.
Tonight was the fifth time I went out to close everyone up to find Lamorak sleeping outside by himself, kicked out of the group. I pick him up and carry him into the coop, and the rest of the ducks just quietly watch him. I feel bad for him. I know if I separate him with his own two girls they will probably not like him because they know he is a "loser". Ducks are just like that, not like chickens. They would not be happy either because the duck flock is really tight knit.
I wonder, does the deepness of the drake's color correlate with their testosterone development, and that is why Amoroc is so dark? What do I do with Lamorak? The only answer I could think of would be to give him to someone who could make him happy. No one wants boys, though, and I typically refuse to give them away because of this. I have already had to give ducks away, and I do not want to get rid of anymore, especially since I would feel obligated to give him away with two girls to sweeten the deal. Has anyone had an outcast situation like this before? Does segregation work, or is their some special trick I can do with the dominant male to make him "nice" or to get everyone to accept Lamorak? Help!
Tonight was the fifth time I went out to close everyone up to find Lamorak sleeping outside by himself, kicked out of the group. I pick him up and carry him into the coop, and the rest of the ducks just quietly watch him. I feel bad for him. I know if I separate him with his own two girls they will probably not like him because they know he is a "loser". Ducks are just like that, not like chickens. They would not be happy either because the duck flock is really tight knit.
I wonder, does the deepness of the drake's color correlate with their testosterone development, and that is why Amoroc is so dark? What do I do with Lamorak? The only answer I could think of would be to give him to someone who could make him happy. No one wants boys, though, and I typically refuse to give them away because of this. I have already had to give ducks away, and I do not want to get rid of anymore, especially since I would feel obligated to give him away with two girls to sweeten the deal. Has anyone had an outcast situation like this before? Does segregation work, or is their some special trick I can do with the dominant male to make him "nice" or to get everyone to accept Lamorak? Help!
