Pekin Suddenly VERY Aggressive ...

[KC Ckn Duck Tenders]

we have 2 Pekin Drakes (really HUGE boys) that have gotten very mean to their flock mates, 3 KC (5 mo old) drakes, and 1 older KC Rouen mix (2yr) drake, and a 3 yr Cayuga drake. This just started happening in the past 2 weeks. Soooo... hormones in December in Missouri? They have all been raised together and have a very spacious "jail" ( we built a 4x8 house and painted to resemble) lol. They have seperate feeding troughs, and a 65 gal water tank... and attached is a 6x10 dog kennel completely secured. The Pekins are herding the younger boys into the house, and then they will sit there by the door and not let them exit.. go figure, guards at the jail. Anyone with a similar situ? I mean , I would understand spring summer, but now? The Pekins have completely removed ALL the noggin feathers from the 3 yr old KC, and I have doctored him and pulled him from coop to the infirmary....however, the 3 young boys are still being harassed... our Cayuga is not in the mix of the infighting..wonder why on that too... Our Big Boys are just BEAUTIFUL, would hate to have to rehome them... bad time of year for that.. they are actually zoo quality from being so spoiled... none of the gang have ever behaved this way, always treated with goodies together, etc. Looking for ideas TIA, Joanne in KCMO

 

[WhiteTreeOfGondor]

Maybe giving them some more space would help. 60 square feet for 7 ducks is only about 8.5 square feet each, and they could be feeling a little cramped. Do you have a way to set the Pekins up with their own area?

 

[KC Ckn Duck Tenders]

Maybe giving them some more space would help. 60 square feet for 7 ducks is only about 8.5 square feet each, and they could be feeling a little cramped. Do you have a way to set the Pekins up with their own area?

I wish... this newest project already cost $1600, we are thinking on an addidtion.....I have the first set up still standing and usable, but our NEIGHBOR states , and the city, too close (5ft) to his property...so in a dilemma for addons right now..

 

[Miss Lydia]

@ruthhope has an all-drake flock hopefully she can give you some pointers with your boys. AND

 

[CoriM]

I have had snow at my house for the past week or so and my ducks have a spacious run, but are tired of being cooped up and I've noticed some extra picking on some type behavior. I think they're just bored because they're used to having free range time in the grass every day and it gets to be close quarters. If I were you I would try putting a see-through fence down the middle and dividing your group for a while to lower the stress level and make sure no one gets hurt. I can't imagine how horrible it would be for your one to have his feathers pulled - so sad!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@ruthhope we could use your help on an drake flock.

 

[ruthhope]

I also think that your ducks need more living space. I understand your difficulties in providing more space.

I have an all drake flock of rescues. I have resorted to putting dog crates in the coop to house an aggressive drake, or on occasion to house a bullied drake. I currently have an aggressive muscovy drake in a dogcrate and a bullied muscovy sleeping on tray on top of that dog crate with three meanie pekin drakes duking it out amongst themselves in the open coop.

I use dog crates because the design of my coop doesnt accommodate partitioning. A benefit of dog crates is that they can be reconfigured. I once had 2 medium dog crates each housing a drake and a large dog crate housing two clutch mate pekin drakes. And still had a muscovy roosting upstairs on top of one of the dog crates. See photo.

Can you partition your duck house to accommodate your aggressive boy separately from the others at night?