"Overbred" duck...when to separate.

[pamelajean]

i have 2 ducks. Without a drake they've taken to "mating" each other. One now is getting a significant bald patch. I've noticed she is not in the pool as much with her sister...maybe trying to avoid her? She has only laid one egg the past three days and it was in a hidden nest I found. NEVER though I'd ask this... Could it actually get to the point where I need to separate the girls?

 

[Speedychicken27]

I would separate them for 1 week until she heals and put antibiotic ointment on the patch

 

[Abriana]

I would separate them for 1 week until she heals and put antibiotic ointment on the patch

Agreed. Maybe get another female or two and a drake? That way there will be enough for the drake to mate without damage and the ladies won’t be as needy.

 

[Speedychicken27]

I would get 1-2 more females and one drake but the drake could cause the same effect.

 

[HeatherD42]

I have four females and one four year old drake and he still broke the skin on one girl's neck last week. I'm not sure what the magic ratio is, because they play favorites...

That is amazing that with two girls, one could "overbreed" the other! My male climbs on and tries and tries and tries, whereas when the girls pretend, they just bump butts once and it's over.

Maybe the dominant one needs a new home... Otherwise, maybe more ducks. But as was said, if you get a drake, you may be facing the same issue. And the drake will run them down and catch them even if they don't want sexy times

 

[chickens really]

Ducks are sexual and are prolific breeders..Your positive you have two Hens?..It's common for Hens to breed Hens, Drakes to breed Drakes. Many times in the kiddie pool it's a Duck sandwich here. Hen, Drake, Hen lol..
Breeding season has hormones running high..Possibly two more Hens are needed.