Aggressive Pekin Drakes

[Maddiejayne]

Last august I got 2 pekin hens, 2 pekin drakes, 5 chicken hens and 2 roosters. Almost everyone gets along fine (no problems with the 2 roosters) except my 2 male pekins have turned out to be evil. They chase the chickens around the yard (they all free range together) and are very aggressive with them. At first we kind of though it was a game for one of the drakes, but since the other decided to join in, they have now started really plucking at the chickens. I don’t know why the chickens don’t try to escape them, they give in very easily, and now my hens are all missing a lot of feathers. I understand mating season, hormones, and maybe more duck hens would contribute a great deal, but their behavior is unlike anything I’ve read about. They are not aggressive towards me or my husband and kids, just the chickens. I knock them off of the chickens or stand in the middle of the situation when I’m present for it. I do fear them trying to mate with the chickens because I know that can be fatal, but I don’t get the impression that’s all they’re interested in. They corner the hens, grab at their feathers and just continue to smother them or pull on their feathers. My question is….. Is there anything I can do (aside from COMPLETELY separating them) to change their behavior/hate for the chickens? Is it possible with enough time-outs to actually make the drakes change their behavior? They are so mean to them and I wish I could encourage them to back off rather than get rid of them. Ay suggestions would be great!

 

[CarleeAnn]

I know you’re wanting suggestions to fix this problem, but unfortunately I don’t think it’s worth experimenting. Your drakes pulling at the hens feathers are trying to mate, and drakes are hormonal. It sounds like you know the best solution would be more female ducks and a separation of chickens and ducks completely. You can try to temporarily separate the drakes but still allow them to view the hens through a fence, but this could just “tease” them and when they are back together the problem would occur again.

I know this isn’t what you want to hear. I’m sorry! I hope you do find a way to remedy this.

 

[Maddiejayne]

I know you’re wanting suggestions to fix this problem, but unfortunately I don’t think it’s worth experimenting. Your drakes pulling at the hens feathers are trying to mate, and drakes are hormonal. It sounds like you know the best solution would be more female ducks and a separation of chickens and ducks completely. You can try to temporarily separate the drakes but still allow them to view the hens through a fence, but this could just “tease” them and when they are back together the problem would occur again.

I know this isn’t what you want to hear. I’m sorry! I hope you do find a way to remedy this.

Thank you for the response, I guess I was hoping of some miracle idea that I had not yet heard of or if its normal to get rid of troublesome birds without exercising all possibilities. We have more ducks coming, but they won't be here for another month and babies when they do. I honestly don't think my chickens will survive the summer if I do nothing. Unfortunately, I cannot completely separate them, our property is on a pond and the fenced in area runs up to it, so the ducks have access through the pond to all parts of the property. I hate the idea of getting rid of them, but cannot continue to watch my chickens suffer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Make a drake pen a lot of folks have them this time of year.