why is my mallard drake attacking my son ?

[kindmamma]

Hi everyone I am new here and I have a question. I have had a pair of snowy mallards for 3 years this spring. They were hand raised as ducklings and have always lived in our yard on a small pond and a creek. They have always been friendly especially the drake and would follow us around in the yard, hang out where we were and eat from our hands. Late last summer our drake began to chase and nibble our 9 year old son. Nothing to serious at fist. well when our hen began to lay this spring it got worse with the drake flying at my sons head while he rides his bike and chasing and biting at his feet so bad he can't walk through the yard.
Our hen was killed by a snapping turtle last week so I thought maybe he would chill and hang out until some eggs hatch in the incubator and they grow enough to hang out with him, but alas the attacks have continued.
Has anyone had any experience with any thing like this. We all really love him and don't want to have to get rid of him. My son is so upset. They used to be buds.
Sorry for such a long post and thanks in advance.

 

[Wifezilla]

Could the drake see your son as a younger "funny looking" drake?

 

[kindmamma]

I have no idea.. like I said it just started for no reason and got worse. We have tried having our son attempt to gentle him , picking him up and petting him, giving him treats ect. We have tried having our son dominate him thinking the same thing that you did. Neither have worked. It is now to the point that my child doesn't want to go play in his own yard. I am at a loss. Everyone I know says they have never heard of a duck becoming mean. HELP!!! If I can't figure this out he is gonna go live on Grandmas 2 acer pond this weekend.

 

[sparkles2307]

Our Saxony is getting a bit agressive now that his lady is setting, he is just lonely and mad that she isnt with him anymore. He walks behind us with his head down hissing but he hasnt attacked. If it keeps up eat the thing! If Sax attacked one of my kids he'd be in the pot, I love duck meat anyway.

 

[kindmamma]

I feel the same way about our chickens but our ducks have always been pets and I don't think any of us could stomach eating him. Plus his attacking is not causing bodily harm it is just really annoying and not fair to our kid. I just don't understand why it is just my son. I guess maybe he is just the most active and rambunctious person in the yard but the drake doesn't bother our 7 year old girl or any of the kids friends...

 

[Cetawin]

Did it start after the hen was taken by the turtle? He probably saw the attack and misses her and is going through an emotional state. If your son and he were buddies before, maybe that is why the son is feeling his upset. They really have no means of telling us they are unhappy, lonely, scared or whatever. Just a thought maybe way off base. Maybe get him another girl.

Good luck with him.

 

[sparkles2307]

Sorry, I was joking, we tend to be pretty blunt and dry withour humor at our house.

I agree that he is most likely going thru an emotional phase, as that is what Sax is doing, moping around by the pen since he cant get to Meade now that shes setting...and threatening us/the dog/the goats but he hasnt outright attacked. I am sure your poor boy is lonely just like Sax is.

Good luck!

 

[kindmamma]

I would agree completely that he is lonely but this first began last summer when she was right by his side all day and night. He has always just hung out with us when she was setting. It began to escalate when she began to lay this spring, she never did start to sit this year and had 42 eggs in her nest when I finally cleaned it out for her to start again.

He has always been protective of her and would charge your feet until you were an acceptable distance from her when you were walking by them.He never had any problem with us hand feeding her though and never actually bit until this mess with my son started. She just died last week. I don't know if he saw her demise but he defiantely saw her corpse when we found her. I had tried to find a female but snowy mallards are not common, at least around here. I have ducklings hatching on Sunday so maybe he will chill just knowing they are around even though he won't be able to hang out with them till they are bigger. If not he can go to grandmas and I'll give her some of the babies when they are big enough to live on her pond.

I need a duck whisperer!! Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this problem.

 

[sparkles2307]

Be careful about the babies, he will prolly go after them to kill them until they are big enough to defend themselves.

Does the hen HAVE to be the same breed? Any female would do he just wants someone to take care of again. Sax tried to herd the goats around just to feel like he is still doing his job...

 

[kindmamma]

No, no he wil not have physical access to the babies but he will be able to see them in their pen untill they are big enough. Although he has always had access to the hen raised duckling and we've never lost one.
Because the snowy mallard is not a common breed I don't want to mix in something else. Especially when I have pure babies coming so soon.
I am quite sure that this behavior has nothing to do with his missing his mate because it started 8 months before she died. He follows me wherever I go on our 30 acers and if I'm not around he hangs out with our 3 great pyrenees and cleans the ticks and burrs out of their fur. It is not unheard of for him to be hanging with our goats. He has always been this way even when she was around.
I guess maybe they are like roosters that just one day decide they have to dominate.