Should I swap my rooster?

[wthspirit]

I have a young rooster (Marshmallow) who is second only to his dad (Pablo). His dad can be very protective of flock (won't let Marshmallow mate). Marshmallow is a real sweetie, no worries with his behavior towards us or pullets but he chases down and mounts two of our three female ducks each day (he is close friends with third duck and won't mount her). I think he is stressing other ducks out.

We free range everyone and have no separate space for two ducks.

Not sure what to do. Should I swap Marshmallow and risk his pullet mates and bff duck will be upset, for the sake of the two female ducks being mounted OR do I let them work it out and hope ducks will be okay.

I have someone interested in swapping, just don't want Marshmallow's pullet mates and bff duck to be saddened by his departure.

Thoughts?

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

You could technically swap either one. Once daddy is gone, the son will be more interested in the pullets than ducks.

 

[Top Rooster]

Chickens and ducks will get over things pretty fast I lost my rooster once and all my hens were sad for a day but they got over it the next day.

 

[wthspirit]

Thanks. So if I swapped Alpha rooster (Pablo) the young rooster will stop mounting the ducks? The Alpha rooster is more aggressive than Marshmallow, so that may be solution.

 

[aart]

Thanks. So if I swapped Alpha rooster (Pablo) the young rooster will stop mounting the ducks? The Alpha rooster is more aggressive than Marshmallow, so that may be solution.

Maybe...young cockerels are often wanting to try and mount everything. But if you're not wanting keep the older male, get rid of him and see what happens....but might want to be ready to isolate the younger male for a time for him to mature a bit. How old is the younger male?

 

[wthspirit]

About 24 weeks

 

[gilcamp4]

I have a young rooster (Marshmallow) who is second only to his dad (Pablo). His dad can be very protective of flock (won't let Marshmallow mate). Marshmallow is a real sweetie, no worries with his behavior towards us or pullets but he chases down and mounts two of our three female ducks each day (he is close friends with third duck and won't mount her). I think he is stressing other ducks out.

We free range everyone and have no separate space for two ducks.

Not sure what to do. Should I swap Marshmallow and risk his pullet mates and bff duck will be upset, for the sake of the two female ducks being mounted OR do I let them work it out and hope ducks will be okay.

I have someone interested in swapping, just don't want Marshmallow's pullet mates and bff duck to be saddened by his departure.

Thoughts?

i would say keep him if good with you guys, we have one that hates my husband, will go after him when he is feeding them,

 

[Abriana]

I would say keep Marshmallow. He is sweet, and will probably stop bothering the ducks and take interest in the hens when daddy is gone, and then the bff duck won't be sad. If Pablo is good with the hens though, you might want to keep him, as cockerels can be aggressive in mating because they want to and aren't as mature as cocks. He will get over it, if that is the case, but you might not want to stress the hens out for however long it takes for Marshmallow to mature. This probably will be the case, as a cock in the flock will tamp down the cockerel's over-eagerness. Really it is up to you though.

 

[aart]

About 24 weeks

He may still be over-exuberant, but also may calm down with the older one gone.
Multiple males create an environment of competition, bringing out the worst behaviors in all of them.

 

[Bluechick2u]

Thanks. So if I swapped Alpha rooster (Pablo) the young rooster will stop mounting the ducks? The Alpha rooster is more aggressive than Marshmallow, so that may be solution.

My vote is don't swap anybody, the young rooster can't hurt the ducks (no penis) and he will help defend the ducks if he's with them, drakes don't defend like roosters, and ducks are built to withstand a drakes crazy scary corkscrew willie, so the roostets actions are just a dominance issue with them, it doesn't hurt them at all. My ducks have a rooster guardian, he hasn't hurt them at all.