Time to rehome my drake?

[Sharpgirls]

The size difference is something to think about though. My pekin can't mate with my smaller ducks. He is much too big to get the right balance and angle and instead falls off repeatedly and pulls out their neck feathers trying to stabilize. He does not have this problem with his pekin girls. Consider getting some more large breed ducks for his amorous intentions. If nothing else it will spread the lovin' around and give your smaller girls a break.

Thank you! I'll keep an eye on that for sure.

 

[Jenessa_096]

Thank you! I'm ok with him chasing them when they free range because he's not a sprinter and they outrun him easily. Would you give them a safe space at night or just lock them together in the pen and let it play out? Thanks for your thoughts

Do

Thank you! I'm ok with him chasing them when they free range because he's not a sprinter and they outrun him easily. Would you give them a safe space at night or just lock them together in the pen and let it play out? Thanks for your thoughts

Did you quarantine them? Or just put them together right away?

 

[Sharpgirls]

Do

Did you quarantine them? Or just put them together right away?

I quarantined them, but they were close enough to see each other and quack back and forth. The first day they were allowed together they were so excited to run up to the drake and be near him, but the second day it became him chasing them around. I guess my worry was mostly about trapping them in with him at night in the run. It's large but they don't have anywhere to avoid him.

 

[Jenessa_096]

I quarantined them, but they were close enough to see each other and quack back and forth. The first day they were allowed together they were so excited to run up to the drake and be near him, but the second day it became him chasing them around. I guess my worry was mostly about trapping them in with him at night in the run. It's large but they don't have anywhere to avoid him.

As long as you keep an eye out on the size, I think they should do fine together. It might take a while for them to calm down.

 

[Vanshi]

Thank you for your reply! So I'm ok to leave him chasing them around and such? He's got them so spooked they basically hide in the bushes all day at the moment. Would you give them a safe space at night so they aren't trapped with him in the run, or would you just let it play out? Thanks so much for your thoughts on this.

Yes.. chasing is a natural behavior of all types of poult. They play around happily.

You need not worry about them at night... though unlike chickens, ducks are semi nocturnal i.e. can see during night... they will not disturb each other. They will be sleeping, roosting and looking for predators! All will become quite and friendly at night even if they fight or chase on day

But during the day.. it is the nature of drakes to be aggressive at mating!