Really aggressive Drake- Advice appreciated!

[FeatheryWaterPuppies]

Hello! Lately, we have been dealing with a very aggressive drake. Every time we go near him he will chase after us and bite our feet and legs. Sometimes he even flies up our back steps to try and have a go at us... We hatched him ourselves and raised him to be friendly towards people. He had no problem with aggression before. It's also important to note that we had to get his penis surgically removed after a prolapse, though he didn't show aggresive behavior until about 2 months after. Can anyone help us figure out if this behavior is caused by the surgery or not? If you have any tips on how to stop this behavior it would be much appreciated (I'm so sorry if this post is in the wrong place!) (He's so adorable in this picture- don't worry we didn't shut the door on him )

 

[KathiQuacks]

What’s your duck sex ratio?
Have you been petting him / has he been spending a lot of time with you?

 

[FeatheryWaterPuppies]

Right now, it's just him and another drake. We used to have a female (his mom) but sadly she passed away last month. We're hoping to get 2 more females soon.

I do try to give him affection daily, but it's difficult without getting bitten. As you can see here, he bites pretty hard...

 

[ruthhope]

I have a drake that is very bity bity at the moment. My shins and arms are bruised and blood is frequently drawn. My blood, that is. All my drakes are squabbling amongst each other at this time of year, but 1 bites me incessantly. I hand raised him from 2 or 3 days old and he was with me until I found 2 ducky friends for him at 6 weeks old. One friend died last October, but the other is still with me along with 2 more recent arrivals. The bity boy was too old to imprint on me but he bonded tightly and was highly offended when he had to move out to the duckhouse with "ducks"!! He thinks he should live in the house and still, 3 years on, tries to get in the house at every opportunity. In the spring when his hormones surge, he starts biting me. Serious biting, not nibbly nibbly. I am sure it is because he was hand raised. If I sit on the back steps with him, and pet him and talk to him, he goes back to nibbly nibbly.

I think your drake is the same: hormone surge in a drake that bonded tightly with you soon after hatching. Things will start to settle down in the next 3 months and then you will have 4 or so months with him back to normal before next year's hormone surge.

He looks a lovely boy in the photo

 

[KathiQuacks]

I’m sorry you lost your hen..

But I see your problem.. no girls, hand raised, daily affection.. this boy really wants to mate with you. Or at least dominate over you.

2 drakes, 2 hens won’t work. The hens will be overmated and face the same biting you are facing now. I recommend 1 drake to every 4 - 5 hens.

I know you meant well raising him to be “friendly,” but you’ve confused him into thinking you’re a duck that needs dominating. You continuing to be affectionate is only reinforcing his belief of that. You need to get him some girlfriends, and then you need to distance yourself.

People have found it difficult to find a permanent solution to this. Some things you can try are, when he runs after you to bite, hold him under your arm like a ball and walk around with him for awhile. You could also pick him up and toss him into a pool / pond. He may learn to stop, or maybe not But I would try it, and keep trying it every single time.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

2

You'll need way more than two females if you're planning to keep both males.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cold shower can work wonders, pick him Up toss him in the pool it does distract him for a while.
You will need at least 3-4 females for each drake.

 

[FeatheryWaterPuppies]

I have a drake that is very bity bity at the moment. My sins and arms are bruised and blood is frequently drawn. My blood, that is. All my drakes are squabbling amongst each other at this time of year, but 1 bites me incessantly. I hand raised him from 2 or 3 days old and he was with me until I found 2 ducky friends for him at 6 weeks old. One friend died last October, but the other is still with me along with 2 more recent arrivals. The bity boy was too old to imprint on me but he bonded tightly and was highly offended when he had to move put to the duckhouse with "ducks"!! He thinks he should live in the house and still, 3 years on, tries to get in the house at every opportunity. In the spring when his hormones surge, he starts biting me. Serious biting, not nibbly nibbly. I am sure it is because he was hand raised. If I sit on the back steps with him, and pet him and talk to him, he goes back to nibbly nibbly.

I think your drake is the same: hormone surge in a drake that bonded tightly with you soon after hatching. Things will start to settle down in the next 3 months and then you will have 4 or so months with him back to normal before next year's hormone surge.

He looks a lovely boy in the photo

Thank you so much! Hopefully he calms down soon so we can give him pets and love again<3 (Yes, he's so adorable ❤❤❤❤)

 

[FeatheryWaterPuppies]

You'll need way more than two females if you're planning to keep both males.

I'm so glad you told me! I'm actually not in charge of the ducks myself, but I'll definitely bring that up to my guardian

 

[FeatheryWaterPuppies]

Cold shower can work wonders, pick him Up toss him in the pool it does distract him for a while.
You will need at least 3-4 females for each drake.

Thank you very much!