@onaharley can speak about permanent drake jail. And it does not make you a bad duck owner. You have to do what you do for the safety and peace of your flock. Maybe by end of fall Fergus will have calmed down enough that he can be with the flock once in a while. As long as he is close and can see everyone that is best you can do.
So you kept one WH drake back?
Good morning Miss Lydia, it's just such dramatic change in the flock once Fergus is separated, it's so peaceful and the whole flock act like ducks, swimming in the pool, foraging in the grass and just doing general duck stuff.
When Fergus was introduced just two days ago, everyone except Downy spent those two days running away from the huge terrifying Fergus. And if he did manage to catch one, it would always be the same ancona duck never the other two.
He completely ignored Downy, he'd rather spend energy chasing the same ancona girl each time when he can also give her a break, and mate with Downy when shes standing right next to him.
Plus Downys the only duck who doesnt run away from him in fear, and the same size as him. Its makes no sense to chase after the faster ancona girls, just to spend more energy to mate.
It was so heart wrenching hearing the poor ancona girl cry out as Fergus caught her for THIRD time that day.
Not only did Fergus grabbed her eye a few time but she would literally try to pull away from him as he was holding onto her neck, I honestly thought she was going to break her neck trying to pull away.
When Downy and Fergus started to mate, it was way more consenteral, with both parties head bobbing and getting close to one another.
This was just horrible to watch, I knew I had to separate Fergus.
And yes we kept the one Welsh Hariquen, so we have two drake, one currently in drake jail and four ducks living with the calmer, smaller drake.
The WH treats the ancona girls the way they should be treated, and mates with them so gently. And more importantly he gives everyone attention, and not just focuses on one girl.
Right now the wh and the ancona girls are in the kiddie pool and he is helping them clean their feathers and they are cleaning his feathers, it's super cute.
@Duck mommy 2019
We rescued Downy and Fergus when they were abandond in our neighborhood pound with another duck who passed away from a predator attack, I feel a duty to be their forever home so they never get abandoned again and face the risk of being predator food.
Besides, Pekins are common ducks for people to kill and eat.
Also Fergus was either born with a birth defect, or was attacked before he was abandoned here as he has one wing noticably shorter then the other, and unfortunately I dont see many people wanting a pekin with a wing defect that huge.
And I feel that puts him more at risk at being a meal for someone.
Pekins are also so common you can find them everywhere (tsc is a common place) pekins that dont have a wing defect or personality issues, so I dont see a lot of people wanting Fergus, no offense to him.
I placed an ad on craigslist for the ancona drakes and in less then 22 hours someone had called multiple times wanting them, and paided the price I asked. I was able to put the history of the ancona drakes in the ad listing, and was able to answer any questions anyone had.
But since I didnt raise Fergus, I'm completely guessing his age, and I cant answer any questions on his personal history before he came into our lives. I just feel rehoming him would either lead to him being abandoned again or potinaly eaten by his next owner.
At least at my house, he gets clean water, fresh food everyday. Pool privilege on the weekends, and when they all get locked up at night, he gets to sleep by the flock separated by a fence of course.
It might not be the idea life, and he might not get all the girlfriends he wants. But if Fergus cant behave himself and cant treat his ladies like queens, then he dosnt deserve them in my opinion.
