Runner drakes are sudden imbeciles

[ruthhope]

That's what I've been thinking. Although I lost a drake, Skylar, who was the same age as Sheldon, one of the hens, Quinn, was the duck "queen." She, much more than the three boys I got with her (neither the breeder nor I had any duck-sexing skills back then) was the flock leader.

I just hope it ends soon. Very, very soon.

I think you just have to separate the aggressive drakes from the others for the time being. I would expect the aggression to reduce by late summer.

I now have two of my flock of drakes--both pekins--sleeping in dogcrates in the coop, with their own food and water. That is to stop my meanie muscovy drakes biting them and excluding them from food and water. They are all out together free ranging during the day. There is some petty occasional pecking at each other but they all have room to get away from each other in my back yard. I was advised, by Miss Lydia, to have separate stalls for the drakes in my coop. With the right materials and some difficulty, I could probably build separate stalls. But two 30" dogcrates fit neatly next to each other and all the ducks are now happy going into the coop.

 

[Callender Girl]

After spending days battering each other, it appears Sheldon and Layne -- both with multiple bald spots -- have called a truce. I left Layne in the duckling brooder house while I was gone for much of yesterday. Last night, I released him to spend the night in the big shelter with everybody else.

Apparently, he was gone long enough that all is forgiven -- the two nitwits have been lying side by side today without a single squabble. Again, I say, BOYS!

 

[gracega2015]

I'm feeling invested in this drake drama. I need to know how it turns out!

 

[Callender Girl]

Well, hormones are still running wild. Today, when I opened the shelter and everyone ran for breakfast, Layne and Sheldon spent the entire trip nipping at each other. They are both looking seriously raggedy and I am tired of spraying Vetericyn on the wounds.

While they were engaged in their "fisticuffs," I was able to swoop in and carry off Layne. Sheldon, my last original runner, is generally too smart to get himself trapped in a corner; Layne is a little less clever. He is now safely alone, locked in one of the larger chicken runs, distracted by a full water dish and his own private feeding of duck pellets.

As I am contemplating how to build a small "rooster coop" inside one of the big coops to protect my the girls from a Very Romantic Bantam rooster, I am hoping today's timeout will postpone my duck dilemma for a day or two.

Thanks for inquiring. I needed to vent!