White drake gone dark!

[happychick73]

HELP! three months ago we got some chicks and two ducks, the chicks grew up, there were ten chicks and only two turned out to be hens the others were accidental meat chickens or roos, that's kind of off the point, but anyway one of the ducks is a drake, surprise, but he keeps trying to breed with the chickens, he is not even sexually mature. So I don't know what to do because if we get rid of him the other duck will be sad beyond compare, not to mention me!

 

[FeatherLace]

HELP! three months ago we got some chicks and two ducks, the chicks grew up, there were ten chicks and only two turned out to be hens the others were accidental meat chickens or roos, that's kind of off the point, but anyway one of the ducks is a drake, surprise, but he keeps trying to breed with the chickens, he is not even sexually mature. So I don't know what to do because if we get rid of him the other duck will be sad beyond compare, not to mention me!

I'd say just separate the ducks from the chickens. Ducks have different parts than chickens and it could harm your hen if your drake mates her. Another option is to get a different duck around the same age, introduce them until they are friends, then get rid of the original drake so your duck won't be too sad because she still has one friend with her

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Separate the ducks immediately. Ducks will badly hurt hens if they breed with them. They have very different anatomy than roosters

 

[Oncoming Storm]

I have this problem too with one of my drakes. The chickens can easily outrun them and can fly up somewhere to escape. But I tend to step between them. The hens know now to run to me if they’re receiving unwanted attention from the drake. They’ll also run by the roosters and they’ll usually knock some sense into the guy without doing any damage. If he persists, physically stop him and give him the boot. Not hard but let him know you’re not messing around. I usually end up nudging him away and then chasing him to let him know to stay away.

 

[FeatherLace]

Yeah either way, if you get another duck and get rid of the first, you still definitley need to separate them until you get rid of him

 

[FeatherLace]

I have this problem too with one of my drakes. The chickens can easily outrun them and can fly up somewhere to escape. But I tend to step between them. The hens know now to run to me if they’re receiving unwanted attention from the drake. They’ll also run by the roosters and they’ll usually knock some sense into the guy without doing any damage. If he persists, physically stop him and give him the boot. Not hard but let him know you’re not messing around. I usually end up nudging him away and then chasing him to let him know to stay away.

Thats good advice but remember you can't be watching and intervening 24/7, its just not possible unless you live, eat, and sleep with your birds. While the drake knows his place now he will likely challenge that position in the flock sooner or later

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Thats good advice but remember you can't be watching and intervening 24/7, its just not possible unless you live, eat, and sleep with your birds. While the drake knows his place now he will likely challenge that position in the flock sooner or later

Oh yeah absolutely not. I simply don’t have that much of a problem because my hens are fiercely guarded by the team of roosters. This is simply a suggestion since I know that some people don’t have the resources to permanently separate members of the flock *cough cough* me.

 

[FeatherLace]

Oh yeah absolutely not. I simply don’t have that much of a problem because my hens are fiercely guarded by the team of roosters. This is simply a suggestion since I know that some people don’t have the resources to permanently separate members of the flock *cough cough* me.

I get that! I wasn't saying that was bad advice at all, I was just saying remember to always be watching for signs!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Separate the ducks immediately. Ducks will badly hurt hens if they breed with them. They have very different anatomy than roosters

This X 1000!!

 

[happychick73]

Separate the ducks immediately. Ducks will badly hurt hens if they breed with them. They have very different anatomy than roosters

plus the biting on their necks