They arent suppose to mate!

[tiffanya]

I am aware that this may sound bizarre but here is my situation. I have 11 chickens (10 hens and a rooster) and a pair of Cayuga ducks. All have be raised together and get along for the most part, but recently my rather dominant Cayuga drake has started attempting to mate with my chickens. At first I thought it was just bullying, but now know it is definitely more than that. I'm just worried he is going to hurt one of the hens as the whole thing is more than a little awkward. I am planning to move my ducks when our second run is complete but wondered if anybody else has had this problem?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I don't have ducks, but I have heard that they can injure the hens because drakes have "parts" where roosters don't.

 

[tiffanya]

I'm more worried about him breaking their neck trying to hold on at this point. I'm not sure he's real close at "accomplishing" anything its all so awkward.

 

[KellyHM]

One of my drakes use to do the same thing. I got him some additional ladies and he stopped messing with the chickens.

 

[sourland]

I'd be concerned about injured pelvises or induced cloacal prolapse on your hens. The reproductive tract of chickens is not designed for the insertion of "objects," The stress that he is causing could also impact egg production. Separate, separate, separate!

 

[chickensbythesea]

Happy Chicks hit the nail on the head. I hope this doesn't get me in trouble, as I'm trying to be scientific, not dirty... Male ducks have genitals that can grow as long as their entire body. They're one of very few birds that have actual male genitalia, and roosters do not. Since roosters have internal genitalia, hens aren't equipped to have things going into that orifice. Having something the length of a duck trying to go in an exit only hole can be really damaging to them.
Sounds like it's time to kick that run into higher gear, and probably separate the Cayugas in the meantime.

Even if you're only concerned about him injuring their necks, you are concerned about him injuring them, so it's high time to do something. He's not interested in his mate and the rooster's not defending the hens, so once he picks a favorite, he'll develop more skill and really do a number on her.

 

[tiffanya]

Its strange, both ducks still hang out together but I don't even see him trying to mate with the other Cayuga at this point. I did just get more ducklings so will eventually move them all in together. He's even dominant over my rooster currently.

 

[tiffanya]

Thanks for all of the info. I wasn't aware of all of the details of the chicken vs. duck repro. system. Will get them separated asap.