Separating drakes during mating season

[Miss Lydia]

Most of the summer

 

[Miss Lydia]

@onaharley has a good set up for her drake.

 

[PirateGirl]

Unfortunately this is not behavior you can stop. It's normal and natural for drakes to try and mate anything and everything. You can't train them not to do this, the instinct is too strong. Since you only have 2 ducks, an easy second house is a dog crate/house. You can usually find one online used relatively cheap. You will be the best judge of how to divide up your property and if you alternate who gets to use the large space or if they both have their own larger space. You will have to watch them. I'd only bother separating them if you really believe that one is in danger of injuring the other, otherwise I like to accept that animals sometimes squabble and generally can work things out among themselves. You will be the best judge of this. You can try putting them back together once a week or once every few weeks and see how they behave. It might not work out with them back together until August or September, or if they are under a year now and just hitting peak maturity, unfortunately, this may be the way it always is. Good luck.

 

[bluemerle]

The plastic dog crates make good temporary sleeping coops, too. Lots of ventilation + protection from predators (just make sure to hw cloth the door + side vents if you have very small predators).

 

[thumper650]

I feel your pain @DuckyBabies . I had 2 pekin drakes, last year. I have added 2 runners since.
I do separate my guys, I just started this week, which is earlier than last year. I have a short fence separating my run, that I can step over, but they can't get around. They could probably fly over it of they were determined but they have not yet. I can take some pictures of what's going on out there tomorrow. They are better when they free range, but not enough to leave them all day alone. I set up a badboy pen for tomorrow way out in the yard for my aggressive boy, Roscoe, who I nicknamed "Chopper" when he's in this mode.
One thing I try to do is make sure they can see each other, because ducks need company.
This year is a little different, because i have added 2 runners. Chopper is going after my black runner the most, for whatever reason. Fortunately when they are out in the yard the runners can just run away. My more docile Pekin, Scooter, spends the day penned with the runners, and they don't seem to have a problem....yet.
Having 2 of everything, food, water and stuff is a pain, but you'll get used to it.
I went away for a week in August last year, when I came home they were best friends again. My brother was watching them for me and said they just started getting along.
I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

 

[chickens really]

Hello..If possible you could buy a prefab Coop/Run. I have one as my Drake jail/nursery/hospital. They work great.

 

[DuckyBabies]

Well, I will be working on a temporary pen this weekend. I plan to make it a big enough run to give adequate grazing room. I plan on using pvc pipe, chicken wire, and zip ties. I’m gonna put a tarp over half, and a dog crate in there for nighttime. I plan on alternating days on who goes in the run so they both get time free ranging and going in the run. Hopefully this will work out well! I changed their water bucket this morning to an Easter basket so they can still dunk their heads but they can’t get in it and swim. So far that seems to work pretty well for at least eliminating them trying to mate in the water.

 

[thumper650]

keep in mind that they will probably hang together whenever possible, so an area where they can see each other is important.

 

[PirateGirl]

Hello..If possible you could buy a prefab Coop/Run. I have one as my Drake jail/nursery/hospital. They work great.

I really like this idea. I found that once I figured out a good separation technique I realized I can use it any time I have someone that needs to be housed separate for any reason, drake jail, integration see no touch, hospital, etc. Now I don't panic when I need a separate place quickly!

 

[chickens really]

I really like this idea. I found that once I figured out a good separation technique I realized I can use it any time I have someone that needs to be housed separate for any reason, drake jail, integration see no touch, hospital, etc. Now I don't panic when I need a separate place quickly!

Yes..I'm buying another one this spring too. They definitely work great.