Would a drake help?

[dbolak]

I started with five Welsh Harlequin (3 girls, 2 boys) and two buff girls.

I have given my two drakes away because they would not leave my five girls alone. Things were good for two weeks now the girls are going broody and at least one of them is attempting to breed the other girls. The feathers I thought were going to grow back on their heads are being pulled out again by another female. I have only witnessed this with the one girl.

I have disrupted the nest of one since the drakes have been gone for three weeks now. One girl disappeared during the day yesterday. I have no idea what got her, I have six foot board on board fencing. The drakes used to watch the skies so I don't know if I should have kept one.

Suggestions? Is this just normal spring behavior?

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I started with five Welsh Harlequin (3 girls, 2 boys) and two buff girls.

I have given my two drakes away because they would not leave my five girls alone. Things were good for two weeks now the girls are going broody and at least one of them is attempting to breed the other girls. The feathers I thought were going to grow back on their heads are being pulled out again by another female. I have only witnessed this with the one girl.

I have disrupted the nest of one since the drakes have been gone for three weeks now. One girl disappeared during the day yesterday. I have no idea what got her, I have six foot board on board fencing. The drakes used to watch the skies so I don't know if I should have kept one.

Suggestions? Is this just normal spring behavior?

Thanks!

Yes it is very normal for a duck to take on the role of drake and be dominant, acting out sexually with the other ducks, so sorry you lost one of your girls yesterday, I really don't know how well drakes are at protecting their girls, seems all my flocks depend on the roosters to give the warning call. My drakes are pretty hard on the girls with the mating, but the girls adore the drakes just the same.

 

[dbolak]

Thanks for your comments. I guess I will just wait and see. With this behavior does egg production decrease as well? We have suddenly had a great decrease in the number of eggs per day.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for your comments. I guess I will just wait and see. With this behavior does egg production decrease as well? We have suddenly had a great decrease in the number of eggs per day.

It may be they have just gone into a bit of rest before starting up again. Mine will lay real heavy for a couple months then slack off for a month to give their bodies a rest then back to laying again, you may want to add some kind of poultry vitamin or some unpasteurized ACV to their water for a boost.