Texas

[tiedyemommy]

I now know the crest is a skull deformity. After finding out details I was never going to allow them to hatch their own eggs. But I have 1 black crested and 3 whites. Plus a white Pekin drake. All the white ducks are racist! So I was going to get Ebony some black companions, aka the Cayugas. But now, Howard the drake is on thin ice, he tried to drown Ebony yesterday and has been chasing her off food. If he continues this behavior he either gets rehomed or becomes dinner! Crazy duck.

Uuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm...Howard's in truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuble!

Sounds like your typical teenage boy.

 

[Starfire669]

Sure, they're prone to seizures and other neurological problems...but nothing in the texts suggest they are certifiably insane as well. 

- TieDyeMommy

I know, I read about death in the shell, seizures, being extremly fragile on their crest due to it being a fatty deposit. But nothing said they were psychotic! And Howard is getting to be a pain. So far today he hasn't attacked Ebony, but he was rough grabbing Ivory's crest before mounting her. He may just have to go for the ladies health.

 

[LightningTFarm]

Ducks mating can seem VERY violent. The drakes grab them by the chest, the head, the neck, anywhere they can latch on. And they are very rough. I get mad when I see two or three drakes ganging up on one duck. If I am outside they get hit with a hard spray from the hose, and that usually breaks it up.

If you really want to see something freaky, google "Ballistic Penis" and you will get an eyeful about duck mating!

 

[tiedyemommy]

I know, I read about death in the shell, seizures, being extremly fragile on their crest due to it being a fatty deposit. But nothing said they were psychotic! And Howard is getting to be a pain. So far today he hasn't attacked Ebony, but he was rough grabbing Ivory's crest before mounting her. He may just have to go for the ladies health.

I've read duck mating is quite violent. The ladies often end up with bald spots on their necks & heads...even from friendly drakes. The thing with Crested is that they have a permanent soft-spot on their skulls & can get hurt very easily. Might be beneficial to re-home Howard...so no one gets seriously injured. Would be a shame to eat him so young.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I've read duck mating is quite violent. The ladies often end up with bald spots on their necks & heads...even from friendly drakes. The thing with Crested is that they have a permanent soft-spot on their skulls & can get hurt very easily. Might be beneficial to re-home Howard...so no one gets seriously injured. Would be a shame to eat him so young.

It might seem like a shame, but that's when they taste the best!

 

[tiedyemommy]

Ducks mating can seem VERY violent. The drakes grab them by the chest, the head, the neck, anywhere they can latch on. And they are very rough. I get mad when I see two or three drakes ganging up on one duck. If I am outside they get hit with a hard spray from the hose, and that usually breaks it up.

If you really want to see something freaky, google "Ballistic Penis" and you will get an eyeful about duck mating!

@Starfire669 - Have you tried using the hose as a conditioning tool...spray Howard down when he does something you don't approve of? Kind of like squirting kittens when they claw furniture, etc... Might be worth a shot. He is young enough he could learn to behave.

 

[Starfire669]

I had a Cayuga drake that was an extra thrown in with my first order of Welsh Harlequins, and I just loved him. He was so calm and laid back. If you don't want to breed them, eat Howard and just keep girls. A couple of Cayuga ducks would be good friends for Ebony, and most likely bigger than she is and able to gang up on the white ducks!

Ebony I believe is a crested mallard, she is the smallest duck as well as the only black duck. Howard is twice her size, so should not be breeding her at all anyway. He can seriously hurt her, but he isn't interested in breeding her, just apparently keeping her away from his white girls or killing her if she gets too close. As Ebony is my whole families favorite, she wins this fight easily.

I do have someone who would buy Howard IF I also sold a female with him. Not really wanting to get rid of any of my ladies. But them, I don't want Howard hurting Ebony either and I don't want to kill him after his hard life. Being abandoned like he was sucks.

 

[tiedyemommy]

It might seem like a shame, but that's when they taste the best!

I'm sure young birds taste delicious...I'm just new to the whole back yard birds thing, and Howard used to be ours...so I'm a little overly sentimental about the idea of him becoming a meal so soon. The main reason we re-homed him (and his harem) was because we were more chicken people than duck people. I only hope he can be re-homed, where he can make lots of adorable Pekin ducklings. He's too young & handsome to become a Spring dinner.

 

[tiedyemommy]

Ebony I believe is a crested mallard, she is the smallest duck as well as the only black duck. Howard is twice her size, so should not be breeding her at all anyway. He can seriously hurt her, but he isn't interested in breeding her, just apparently keeping her away from his white girls or killing her if she gets too close. As Ebony is my whole families favorite, she wins this fight easily.

I do have someone who would buy Howard IF I also sold a female with him. Not really wanting to get rid of any of my ladies. But them, I don't want Howard hurting Ebony either and I don't want to kill him after his hard life. Being abandoned like he was sucks.

I don't blame you for not wanting split up the ladies. Does this potential buyer want a pair to mate, or just so neither would be lonely?

Black Crested are bred from Mallards - http://www.purelypoultry.com/premium-crested-ducklings-p-1116.html

 

[Starfire669]

Ducks mating can seem VERY violent. The drakes grab them by the chest, the head, the neck, anywhere they can latch on. And they are very rough. I get mad when I see two or three drakes ganging up on one duck. If I am outside they get hit with a hard spray from the hose, and that usually breaks it up.

If you really want to see something freaky, google "Ballistic Penis" and you will get an eyeful about duck mating!

I am just concerned about the ladies crests. If he hits them too hard he could kill them, and he always aims for the crest when breeding. The Cayugas on the other hand I would love to breed, I hear they are tasty. But for that I would need a Cayuga drake, and I don't have room for multiple drakes. I also like the fact that Cayuga lays dark eggs, which will make it easy to keep the crested from hatching any of their eggs. I will not perpetuate the crested at my place. They are cute and adorable, but I think it is cruel to risk seizures and other issues for the sake of a crest.

Man, the more I consider all the angles the more it looks like Howard needs to be rehomed. I hate this, I don't like giving up animals once I get them. It feels wrong. I was raised to be responsible for my animals for their entire life. And having to give Howard to someone else just doesn't sit well with me. Plus it means I'd have to send a lady friend with him, splitting the girls.