Advise 3 male pekin ducks 1 female...

[Echo5]

Hi there,

So I officially have 3 male pekin ducks and 1 female. They have all been together with a group of 6 chickens since day 1. They all get along except for the odd times of the boys rough housing... They are almost 6 months. the chickens have been laying since 4 months and my female duck just started laying a couple weeks ago. She's been looking a little rough for a couple weeks now, the boys I think have been starting to give her a rough time. I know the ratio of males to females is way off and should be the other way around. I didn't know the sex when I bought them. They are all so attached as am I to them. I fear if I get rid of two males they may get separation anxiety. Especial my female, I wouldn't want to give away whoever she's closest too and have her stop laying. I've heard if a female looses or gets separated from a partner they may get depressed and stop laying... We where going to put a divider up in the hut to give her alone time and possibly outside as well...
I know Its best to get rid of some males but I just don't know... my first winter is coming up with these guys... Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Attached to the hip...

 

[Going Quackers]

They are so cute! Pekin look so personable. Your right you have a definite issue, they will eventually wreak havoc on that poor duck and frankly any hens(and in severe cases cause death with chickens because of that)

You can run a drake flock and/or add more ducks... you will still need to break this down, ideal ratios seem to be 1:4 that is what i have here.. a total of 10 birds, mine are Muscovy though, 2 drakes and 8 ducks. This works BUT i separate my drakes at night because they don't get along in confined spaces but the whole flock is run together during the day.

I do sympathize, i had to sell all but 1 of my last hatch.. (9 total) as they were all drakes but 1 that was hard, they were such lovely birds but they were wreaking havoc within the flock as they had matured.

Hopefully that helps, again i do understand where your coming from. GL!

 

[weaversfarm]

We just had that problem with our Khaki Campbell ducks. I bought them at day old and they were also together their whole lives. The drakes were fighting and chasing each other to get the females and the females were just plain wore out from all the drakes. I sold down so I have now have 3 drakes for 9 females. Not nearly the fighting going on and my ducks still laid eggs, so if there was any separation anxiety they didn't show it!!

 

[sourland]

Not only to 3 drakes pose a physical threat to the chickens, but over breeding may cause pelvic injuries and possible prolapse of the duck. Two of the drakes should be relocated.

 

[Echo5]

Thanks so much for all the advise. Going Quackers- They are so adorable and personable. They have quite the different personalities and are so snuggley , once they realize your not going to kill them haha. But I Just put a divider in the hut and outside, Jemima is with the girls and then the boys are all together. Im still highly considering giving away two. Have a few people interested so we'll see how that goes. And I've read about the dangers of drakes going after chickens, no signs of that yet but I know its possible to happen later on if they where able to roam together again. Thanks again