Very aggressive drake

[quirkybeeper]

We had limited space when we got our ducks, so we only have 2, a make and a female Pekin. My drake has gotten more and more aggressive with her lately, and I'm very concerned for her safety. He seems to try to mate with her (or mating behavior at least...he doesn't strike me as a particularly bright duck lol) several times per day. They have a pool, but it's not big enough for both of to get in, which I'm glad for at the moment. I've been reading around and have seen that 2 solutions seem to work best: separate them, and get more hens. Is there anything else I can do?

Also, if we build a second pen, can it be attached to the other, i.e. have the pens sharing a section of fence "wall" to cut down on the expense?

Thanks for your help, and any additional advice is more than welcome, I've never raised ducks before!

 

[Lollipop]

That's normal behavior for any waterfowl during breeding season, which is every spring. If he's damaging her, just seperate them for a month or so. The pen can be joined, but he ain't gonna like it...........Pop

 

[Miss Lydia]

We had limited space when we got our ducks, so we only have 2, a make and a female Pekin. My drake has gotten more and more aggressive with her lately, and I'm very concerned for her safety. He seems to try to mate with her (or mating behavior at least...he doesn't strike me as a particularly bright duck lol) several times per day. They have a pool, but it's not big enough for both of to get in, which I'm glad for at the moment. I've been reading around and have seen that 2 solutions seem to work best: separate them, and get more hens. Is there anything else I can do?
Also, if we build a second pen, can it be attached to the other, i.e. have the pens sharing a section of fence "wall" to cut down on the expense?
Thanks for your help, and any additional advice is more than welcome, I've never raised ducks before!

Something that will help your girl is to get a pool they can both be in at one time, they aren't that expensive and even though it won't curb his desire to mate it will make it easier on her. And yes more ducks for your drake.

 

[sourland]

That's normal behavior for any waterfowl during breeding season, which is every spring. If he's damaging her, just seperate them for a month or so. The pen can be joined, but he ain't gonna like it...........Pop

Logical solution!

 

[quirkybeeper]

So as part of a solution, I'm looking to get 2 more ducks. I found someone who has ducklings but doesn't know what sex they are. I'm wondering if I need to wait and try to find two females to add to my tiny flock. Thanks for all the help, I'm still pretty new at this!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So as part of a solution, I'm looking to get 2 more ducks. I found someone who has ducklings but doesn't know what sex they are. I'm wondering if I need to wait and try to find two females to add to my tiny flock. Thanks for all the help, I'm still pretty new at this!

Well getting ducklings and not knowing if male or female isn't going to help much because if they turn up to be drakes then your just adding to the problem, I'd look into getting older ducks that are females.

 

[quirkybeeper]

Well getting ducklings and not knowing if male or female isn't going to help much because if they turn up to be drakes then your just adding to the problem, I'd look into getting older ducks that are females.

Ok, yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. I'm looking around to see if I can find ducklings that have been sexed (without having to pay an arm and a leg to order just 2 from Metzer), if not, I saw someone who had 2 four-month old females for sale. Hoping for ducklings though

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. I'm looking around to see if I can find ducklings that have been sexed (without having to pay an arm and a leg to order just 2 from Metzer), if not, I saw someone who had 2 four-month old females for sale. Hoping for ducklings though

2- 4 month olds well it's not babies but still young and that will get them to your male faster , which is why you posted that you were concerned for her safety because of the drake being aggressive right? Then hatch out some ducklings when your ducks go broody then you'll have your ducklings.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Duck mating behavior looks rough. That's just the way that ducks breed. The ducks will have feathers missing on the backs of their heads and both the ducks and drakes will have their tail feathers crushed, munched, and torn.

Having several ducks and only one drake just spreads the behavior out over a larger area and gives the ducks a bit of a break. Mating behavior will still be rough. Ducks will still have the feathers gone from the backs of their heads. If duck mating behavior bothers you, I suggest that you re-home your drake because he isn't going to stop.

 

[quirkybeeper]

Duck mating behavior looks rough.  That's just the way that ducks breed.  The ducks will have feathers missing on the backs of their heads and both the ducks and drakes will have their tail feathers crushed, munched, and torn.

Having several ducks and only one drake just spreads the behavior out over a larger area and gives the ducks a bit of a break.  Mating behavior will still be rough. Ducks will still have the feathers gone from the backs of their heads. If duck mating behavior bothers you, I suggest that you re-home your drake because he isn't going to stop.

I know it's supposed to be/look rough, but my poor girl is crippled (I think she got splay leg when she was little, but I didn't know any better at the time). She is missing feathers, but the skin underneath also looks a bit raw and swollen. They've been mating for a couple months now, and hesl seems to be more aggressive now than he was before. Besides, my boyfriend already said I could have 2 more ducks, this just gives me an excuse to get them sooner rathsr than later