The Broody Duck Thread for 2014

[holm25]

If you want good maternal instincts you'll be looking for a chicken hen not a duck hen!
Ducks are far more relaxed about their young; one of mine gets very aggressive when she has babies - she's not bothered about me handling her young (she left them asleep on my hand for an hour on day 1 while she went foraging..), she's only bothered about me touching anything she thinks is food!
As long as they're not constantly standing on or attacking their babies - then you have a "good" duck mum

Funny!

 

[121zues]

I have tried to find out this info but either I'm not looking in the right place or its not their my mallard has been sitting for about a week now and every time she comes of the nest my drake chases her down and tries to mate her is this normal behavior?

 

[smonkeySK]

I have tried to find out this info but either I'm not looking in the right place or its not their my mallard has been sitting for about a week now and every time she comes of the nest my drake chases her down and tries to mate her is this normal behavior?

He's starved of it while she's sitting so I expect he's just getting it when he can.
My mallard hen has a unique spot in the pecking order; she's top! My drake only ever gets anywhere with her when she invites him, so I haven't seen what you are seeing as she's my only successful duck mum- but if it were one of my other girls I expect he'd be all over them like a rash.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Yes, I think that is normal drake behavior. Meaning aggressive drakes behave that way. I am guessing you might have more than one drake in your flock? I have one bonded pair of KCs, when Mum has sat, her drake just goes on about his business without her and I have had no problem with him doing that mating thing. But, I used to have another drake, and he totally ripped up her back trying that. And that just kept on, it was horrible... He left.

I strongly suggest you make every effort to keep your duck 100% separated from that drake. Chances are, he will behave aggressively toward her ducklings when they hatch too. She will not be capable of protecting herself or her young from the drake. So lock him out. Or rehome him.

 

[121zues]

Yes, I think that is normal drake behavior. Meaning aggressive drakes behave that way. I am guessing you might have more than one drake in your flock? I have one bonded pair of KCs, when Mum has sat, her drake just goes on about his business without her and I have had no problem with him doing that mating thing. But, I used to have another drake, and he totally ripped up her back trying that. And that just kept on, it was horrible... He left.

I strongly suggest you make every effort to keep your duck 100% separated from that drake. Chances are, he will behave aggressively toward her ducklings when they hatch too. She will not be capable of protecting herself or her young from the drake. So lock him out. Or rehome him.

I only have one drake he's not aggressive to the ducks or chickens or anybody really he's not aggresive towards her even just jumps on does his thing real quick and goes back to everybody else. They have only been together about 6 weeks I just figured while she was not laying he wouldn't be as interested

 

[121zues]

He's starved of it while she's sitting so I expect he's just getting it when he can.

He's got 6 other girls to get it from lol but I'm pretty sure she's his favorite

 

[holm25]

Yes this is normal behavior in duck's .

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I think it's normal behavior for ducks. They have their social order thing. If she's removed herself off to a corner to be broody, then the remainder of the flock is going to adjust and that social order will resort without her. Therefore when the drake sees her after some time has gone by without him seeing her, he views her as an outsider and tries to chase and or mate or attack. It's just what they do. This might help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/897940/drake-isolating-female#post_13666012

The duck needs you to protect her.

 

[smonkeySK]

He's got 6 other girls to get it from lol but I'm pretty sure she's his favorite

Oh my he is a randy bugger then!
My lad had to make do with trying to hump a white Campbell that he can barely get on top of.
He's a little bibbed call!
My other call has only just warmed enough to him to allow him access so to speak.
So all the while his favourite girl sat on his offspring he was getting next to nothing without complaint.
He's a little trooper lol

 

[holm25]

Oh my he is a randy bugger then!
My lad had to make do with trying to hump a white Campbell that he can barely get on top of.
He's a little bibbed call!
My other call has only just warmed enough to him to allow him access so to speak.
So all the while his favourite girl sat on his offspring he was getting next to nothing without complaint.
He's a little trooper lol