Drake so protective of eggs he chases away the nesting hen?

[TheDaringDucks]

Well this is a baffling development. One of my drakes has taken to chasing one of my hens off her clutch of eggs and nest, only to then start arranging then nest and tending to the eggs like the hen would (gathering nesting material around it, covering the eggs, etc). The biggest problem however is that he doesn't actually incubate the eggs, so I worry the hen will get driven away to the point that it is detrimental to the incubation process.

I know the answer is to separate him (which I am working on doing by building a drake jail). So I guess I'm posting more because I am curious why he would be acting this way. It's almost like he doesn't believe the nest is that hen's nest. He leaves my other nesting hen, who is only a foot away, completely alone. So it isn't like he is aggressive towards everyone. JUST that one specific hen.

It's almost like he doesn't think that nest is hers or has personal grudge against that hen. Is that even a thing ducks do?

 

[sourland]

He may be primarily pair bonded with the other hen and does not want that hen setting next to her. Separate him sooner rather than later.

 

[TheDaringDucks]

Huh! Very interesting! That makes sense! Thanks!

I am planning to separate him asap!