Drake bullying and singling out a duck in his flock

[fordowner]

Hello, with spring my drake has gotten more aggressive but his aggressiveness is only towards one duck/hen - he’s sweet as can be to the other girls. His behavior doesn’t seem to be related to mating either.
Attached to the main coop is a small wooden duck house for them to sleep in, and recently he’s started consistently chasing her into the house any time he sees her out of it. When I go to visit them, she’s in there. It seems like he doesn’t let her out all day.
I’ve had some issues with him in the past aggressively chasing her down to mate when I was around but I believe in that instance it was because he had seen me pet her and believes me to be competition. This seems like he wants to ostracize her now and separate her from the other girls.
What should I do? He doesn’t act like this in the fall and the winter. I would hate to have to rehome her as she is my favorite duck and she is very bonded to me but I am very worried about her wellbeing.

 

[sourland]

Perhaps she has resisted his aggressive mating and is now being 'punished'. It is unlikely that his behavior will improve. Unless you plan on hatching ducklings, I would remove him from the flock.

 

[Bolfreak]

Attached to the main coop is a small wooden duck house for them to sleep in, and recently he’s started consistently chasing her into the house any time he sees her out of it. When I go to visit them, she’s in there. It seems like he doesn’t let her out all day.

Does she have a nest or is laying eggs? I have some drakes that micromanage the nest almost as bad as the broodies! If he’s chasing her IN constantly it’s probably his way of saying she shouldn’t be off the nest.

I’ve had some issues with him in the past aggressively chasing her down to mate when I was around but I believe in that instance it was because he had seen me pet her and believes me to be competition. This seems like he wants to ostracize her now and separate her from the other girls.

How does she act? I have some girls that are laying and especially my broodies that get chased when they come off the nest to bathe. Has nothing to do with being petted by you or not unfortunately- drakes being drakes.
My broodies will also be very fluffy, hunched over, bill open and quack bloody murder while running from the boys. If there aren’t bald patches and it’s one and done, they’ll be fine. If you have a particular drake that does that all day and to any females (and sometimes males, too) then freezer camp is best.
My broodies are locked away during the day, so this only happens when they come off the nest and insist on going outside. After five minutes they’re back at the gate wanting back on the nest.

 

[fordowner]

Does she have a nest or is laying eggs? I have some drakes that micromanage the nest almost as bad as the broodies! If he’s chasing her IN constantly it’s probably his way of saying she shouldn’t be off the nest.


How does she act? I have some girls that are laying and especially my broodies that get chased when they come off the nest to bathe. Has nothing to do with being petted by you or not unfortunately- drakes being drakes.
My broodies will also be very fluffy, hunched over, bill open and quack bloody murder while running from the boys. If there aren’t bald patches and it’s one and done, they’ll be fine. If you have a particular drake that does that all day and to any females (and sometimes males, too) then freezer camp is best.
My broodies are locked away during the day, so this only happens when they come off the nest and insist on going outside. After five minutes they’re back at the gate wanting back on the nest.

She’s never been broody before and she’s very indifferent towards her eggs and nest. She does have a nest though so it very well could be that he’s micromanaging, I hadn’t thought about that. I’ve seen him help the girls make nests and check on eggs before so he’s very involved. I don’t let them keep any eggs to hatch, though sometimes when its rainy I don’t collect that day.
He is ripping some feathers out when he chases her and she currently has a foamy eye though im not sure if its from him grabbing at her head or from her getting dirt in it while digging or something.
I would say the chasing to mate was drakes being drakes but it was quite literally as soon as he saw me that he would run to her without fail lol. He wouldn’t chase her if he hadn’t seen me yet so it had something to do with me being there somehow. She’s also the only one he chases and pins, with the other girls he waits for them to come to him and lower themselves. He’s very sweet to all of them except the one.

 

[Bolfreak]

Yeah, sounds like she’s unfortunately his ‘favorite’. I had to rehome a duck because the drake (that eventually went to freezer camp) was constantly chasing and her neck was bare.
So even if you rehomed her, there’s a chance he could focus on someone else.
Maybe try drake jail, just him locked up until he calms down. Observe her to see if he’s making her miserable or if she’s just molting or something.
If you don’t allow them to brood, do you even need a drake? You could replace him with a drake that works for everyone if you do need fertilized eggs.
Male birds are stupid, sometimes you have to shop around for one that does his job without being a terror.