Over Breeding

[classroomducks]

I have tried to do a search on here on the subject, and I know that it happens a lot. My parents are having some issues with the babies they took from me. We had 3 male pekins, 2 female pekins, and 2 female mallards. For some reason, the boys are breeding the heck out of one of the mallards. To the point where, she was on the bottom and two male pekins climbed on top...thats like 20lbs of duck on top of one little mallard....She has lost lots of feathers on the top of her head and we have separated her out now. Prior to separating her though, she became very timid and scared to be in the group, she didnt come out of the house, and any time she did, the boys attacked her. This is the only girl that they are doing this to. None of the other females are even remotely causing this kind of attention. Any ideas as to why? I realize a 3-4 ratio isnt perfect, but i dont understand why this one girl is being targeted. Is it just time to send one of the boys to freezer camp to increase the ration? Or does it have something to do with this poor little girl? What on earth is going on here? Any ideas???

 

[CMV]

Drakes are notoriously amorous and they have their favorites. Your poor mallard is probably everyone's favorite. The only ways to stop her from getting beaten up are to have some separate housing for your drakes or remove some drakes to improve your ratio. I had a ratio problem and my female got beaten all to heck. I removed all the drakes from the yard. My female is about 2 months into her healing and still looks bedraggled from the attentions of her suitors. The boys can really do a number on the girls quickly.

Good luck.

 

[classroomducks]

Does that mean if i take her out they will start working the other ladies? I am hoping to get fertile eggs to sell for hatching, but the boys all three of them...only seem interested in one girl. And the poor thing wants nothing to do with them...They were all raised together...hatched at the same time...even if i get rid of one of the boys...wont the other two continue to over breed her if she is their favorite?

 

[chasing ducks]

From what I understand a 5 to 1 ratio is best, though I could be wrong, I haven't bred my ducks yet (too young). Maybe just removing the female for a few weeks and improving the ratio would get the attention turned to the other females.

 

[classroomducks]

my mother hasnt quite caught the duckie fever yet...she curses me everytime she has to clean out the pen. So getting more ducks isnt an option. But my fear is even with we get rid of two boys putting the ration at 1-4...the problem is the boys arent breeding the other girls...i dont know if increasing the ratio would do anything...wouldnt the one boy left still breed her even if there is no competiton?

 

[chickboss]

Quote:
If they are destined to the freezer anyway, I would say now is a good time. If they are pets, maybe rehome 2 of the drakes if you can. Or keep the two drakes completly seperate. I don't have any practical experience, but if it was me, I would look at getting a lighter weight drake for the little Mallard duck and the other Mallard duck after she heals. Pekins are just so big compared to them. Then if you could keep them seperated, you could have 1 Pekin drake covering 2 Pekin ducks, and if you went with another Mallard Drake you'd have him covering the two Mallards. Might be easier to sell the eggs that way to. I don't know if it is harder to sell mutt hatching eggs or not.

Good luck!

 

[rainplace]

Instead of keeping the female separated, separate out the males one at a time to see which one is the most aggressive, then find him a new home (or eat him). Three drakes and four females is not a good ratio, especially when two of your females are so much smaller and cannot as easily wiggle away. Really, one pekin drake could service all four of the females just fine.

Good luck!

 

[classroomducks]

does it make a difference if they are not only breeding her, but now they are pecking her? everytime she walks by the boys will peck at her...not even always when they breed her...i dont understand duck culture apparently.

 

[sourland]

I would remove all three males and reintroduce the mallard hen to the flock. After a week or so add one drake to the flock. If he behaves, he stays. If not he goes and try another drake. Gang breeding which is what these drakes are doing is an abnormal behavior brought on by competition among the drakes. It can result in the death or serious to the targeted hen. She has been picked because she is the easiest target. Do not reintroduce more than one drake to the flock or the behavior will manifest itself again.