What is up with drakes?

[CoriM]

My flock consists of 5 females and one drake. The drake is only 8 months old, along with one of the ducks. The other ducks are 3 years old. The drake is a fawn and white runner, so pretty small. He keeps trying to mate with the head duck, who is an older pekin. She tolerates his attempts at mating for a little bit, but the size difference seems difficult for him and he can't get the job done, and she gets tired of his attempts. In the meantime, he ignores smaller ducks who are in the pond with him and seem to be showing signs of availability to mate. Then if he doesn't get the deed done he is a big bully to her. He fights with her face to face and chases her in a way that is intimidating to her. Today she's limping, and I'm concerned that it's because he was chasing her and she hurt herself. Why do drakes choose one female and behave in such a relentless way? He has mated with the other ducks, but he keeps bullying the main pekin, and I'm having to now separate him to keep her safe.

 

[sourland]

It's all about the testosterone. Later in the breeding season he will probably become more mellow. Until then separation is probably a good idea. If you want fertile eggs let him run with the flock every 4 or 5 days and separate her.

 

[CoriM]

I don't want fertile eggs. I ordered 3 females from a hatchery last August and 2 turned out to be males. We already culled one of the males a couple months ago because he was so aggressive and such a bully - against the same duck who happens to be our favorite. I like this male and hope that he can figure things out and find an interest in the other girls. I have him separated for now but he's unhappy. I also have three more babies in a brooder - supposed to all be female.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This time of year we're all crying the drake blues for one reason or another.
I have a totally different scene going on here. I lost my gander of 14 yr in Feb. And his mate Missy has been sleeping with the Runners and Buffs. So my little fawn and white Female Faith has been laying down for Missy and getting in Missy's face jabbering to her well I guess Missy had enough and chewed her face up pretty good. She is healing fine but now I can't let Faith and Missy be together. Every time I try Missy goes after her. I tried putting Missy with the Muscovy but they don't like her. She is bossy with the Runners and Buffs but hadn't ever hurt any of them until this incident So poor Faith is being kept inside a dog X pen so she can still be with everyone but safe from Missy. I am hoping when goose breeding season is over Missy will be more tolerant of Faith and they can all be together again. Just means having to do what we can to keep everyone safe.
Maybe try alternating your females your drake doesn't pick on and see how that goes?
AND just think breeding season is just getting underway

 

[specTONKular]

It could be a bit of a dominance thing too. If your pekin is the alpha female then maybe he is trying to ascertain his authorit? I would suggest keeping your pekin separated for a while, if he can't get to her me might become interested in the smaller ladies

 

[citymeetscountry]

Both of my drakes prefer 1 female. They’re separated now bc the ratio was horrible. 1 of the drakes I have threatened to cook because of how “aggressive” he’s becoming (ok we’ll always has been but it’s more obvious now since he’s over a year old). We have 4 babies (3 weeks old) in the brooder we hatched out from them. I’m fairly certain at least 1 (maybe 2-3 ) are males but it’s still too early to tell.

 

[CoriM]

This time of year we're all crying the drake blues for one reason or another.
I have a totally different scene going on here. I lost my gander of 14 yr in Feb. And his mate Missy has been sleeping with the Runners and Buffs. So my little fawn and white Female Faith has been laying down for Missy and getting in Missy's face jabbering to her well I guess Missy had enough and chewed her face up pretty good. She is healing fine but now I can't let Faith and Missy be together. Every time I try Missy goes after her. I tried putting Missy with the Muscovy but they don't like her. She is bossy with the Runners and Buffs but hadn't ever hurt any of them until this incident So poor Faith is being kept inside a dog X pen so she can still be with everyone but safe from Missy. I am hoping when goose breeding season is over Missy will be more tolerant of Faith and they can all be together again. Just means having to do what we can to keep everyone safe.
Maybe try alternating your females your drake doesn't pick on and see how that goes?
AND just think breeding season is just getting underway

Oh wow, that's really rough, ugh. I'm so sorry Faith got injured! It's hard to feel you can't trust Missy now, and when she needs the company too. I hope things smooth out after breeding season!

 

[CoriM]

It could be a bit of a dominance thing too. If your pekin is the alpha female then maybe he is trying to ascertain his authorit? I would suggest keeping your pekin separated for a while, if he can't get to her me might become interested in the smaller ladies

That's what I'm doing now - I made her a little area with my dog fence - that will keep her from walking too much as well.

 

[specTONKular]

I hope it works!!

 

[ruthhope]

"
Miss Lydia said:
This time of year we're all crying the drake blues for one reason or another.
"
Oh so true!!!