Should I keep my ducks separated?

[Quatie]

Development in the situation. I have watched the action happen in full, finally. Caught her laying down on the ground, in front of them, and he started pecking at her neck and ripping feathers off her wings. Then she got up and ran towards me, chirping erratically. I have separated him again.

What breed of duck do you have? It sounds like you have Muscovy, which that is pretty typical behavior for establishing a pecking order. If you have Muscovy, I would leave them together unless you see blood. It actually sounds pretty tame for Muscovy.

 

[Aunt Angus]

What breed of duck do you have? It sounds like you have Muscovy, which that is pretty typical behavior for establishing a pecking order. If you have Muscovy, I would leave them together unless you see blood. It actually sounds pretty tame for Muscovy.

Interesting. I know so little about Muscovy.

 

[SharkNewt]

What breed of duck do you have? It sounds like you have Muscovy, which that is pretty typical behavior for establishing a pecking order. If you have Muscovy, I would leave them together unless you see blood. It actually sounds pretty tame for Muscovy.

The female is a Muscovy, but she runs to me in what seems like terror, when the male (black swedish) starts ripping out her wing feathers

 

[SharkNewt]

What breed of duck do you have? It sounds like you have Muscovy, which that is pretty typical behavior for establishing a pecking order. If you have Muscovy, I would leave them together unless you see blood. It actually sounds pretty tame for Muscovy.

Sorry if I seem defiant, but I'd like a second opinion before I reintroduce them to each other. We're going to the vet on Saturday, so I'll ask them, but I just can't bare to see her freaking out like that whenever he pulls out her feathers.

 

[CoriM]

I wouldn't want that behavior either - seems kind of extreme.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

It sounds like you need more females or get rid of the drake and only have females. If young, he might outgrow some of this behavior. However, from what I've read it can get worse especially with mallard based ducks.

 

[Quatie]

The female is a Muscovy, but she runs to me in what seems like terror, when the male (black swedish) starts ripping out her wing feathers

For a black swedish drake that is pretty extreme. With my Muscovy females, I have seen them exhibit this behavior, and it only becomes a problem when they direct it at mallard breeds as they are not nearly as hardy. If they were both Muscovy, I would think it pretty normal and they would need to establish a pecking order, and they are both vying for the top.

Since it is a mallard breed, I would personally not keep the male. If he is that young and causing issues, he probably won't get better. With that kind of aggression, it is hard to say how he would even do with other drakes. He might direct it at another drake too.

I would consider getting your female another companion.