Help reintroducing drake to flock?

[Skye'sDucks]

So I started out with two Muscovy ducks, a male and female. When Aspen, my hen, started to lay eggs we decided to let her hatch them. After she did, Firefly, the drake, would only chase her and attack her to try and mate with her again if they were let out together.

Now the ducklings are around ten weeks old, and Firefly has been kept separate from them and the mother the whole time. We tried letting them together once or twice, but in the end, the drake only wanted to mate with the hen. At that time, he was fine with the ducklings.

Today when my mom was feeding them in the morning, one of the ducklings escaped through the gate separating the places they live in and Firefly was chasing it down. He never caught it so no harm was done. I think it was a hen? It was hard to tell once it was back with the flock.

Is there a way that I can reintroduce my drake? He can't see them regularly with the fence we have, but he can hear them and see them through the gate whenever we leave it open or are taking care of them, so he has seen them.

I just don't know what to do, since I don't want to get rid of Firefly.

Any tips would greatly be appreciated.

 

[CrystaBub]

I'm still trying to get my drake to not chase the 2 new female ducks we added over the last month - and they are all the same age. We're separating them most of the time right now, and hoping everyone will calm down over the winter and start to like each other. I think letting him see them is a good thing - maybe that will help. sorry I don't have anything great to offer for tips - but I'm sure some of the experts on BYC can provide more help. Good luck!

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

I don't think he can be introduced to the ducklings if he has been separated until they are fully feathered (like adults) or he could try to mate or kill them.
Ideally a duck owner should have 3-4 females per male duck. Then, the drake is not focused on just one female.
Can he see them wherever he is separated at?
What are your plans with the ducklings?

 

[Skye'sDucks]

I'm still trying to get my drake to not chase the 2 new female ducks we added over the last month - and they are all the same age. We're separating them most of the time right now, and hoping everyone will calm down over the winter and start to like each other. I think letting him see them is a good thing - maybe that will help. sorry I don't have anything great to offer for tips - but I'm sure some of the experts on BYC can provide more help. Good luck!

It's okay! I hope you can introduce your drake to the girls smoothly.

I don't think he can be introduced to the ducklings if he has been separated until they are fully feathered (like adults) or he could try to mate or kill them.
Ideally a duck owner should have 3-4 females per male duck. Then, the drake is not focused on just one female.
Can he see them wherever he is separated at?
What are your plans with the ducklings?

Ah I see. We plan on keeping the ducklings, and will probably take the eggs whenever they start laying.

The drake can see them only sometimes; we have a wooden fence separating them, but a chain-link gate that when the wooden part of the fence is open, he can look at them through there whenever they are eating and hanging out by the food bowls.

Do you think it'd be a good idea to try and find another two female ducks to add to the flock? Would it be too much hassle, or would it help my drake get along with everybody...? Or is it impossible now for him to be reunited with the ducklings and their mom?

Thanks for your help.

 

[chickens really]

Hello. I introduce everybody once the Ducklings are bigger. There will be chasing and he will breed the Hen. It doesn't last long. Then they forage together. My Drake never tries to breed the young Ducks. As long as he isn't acting vicious towards the Ducklings, it's all normal behaviour. I always introduce as they free range and still separate when penned up till I can trust that no one will get hurt.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Hello. I introduce everybody once the Ducklings are bigger. There will be chasing and he will breed the Hen. It doesn't last long. Then they forage together. My Drake never tries to breed the young Ducks. As long as he isn't acting vicious towards the Ducklings, it's all normal behaviour. I always introduce as they free range and still separate when penned up till I can trust that no one will get hurt.

Hi. Thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure if my drake will act vicious toward the ducklings...He used to care less about them; now they're much older and almost fully feathered. Yesterday one got into his yard and he was chasing it back and forth, but never caught it, so that's why I'm a little worried.

But I know that there will be chasing around, I just don't want anybody to get injured. All my ducks free range 24/7 but I'll definitely introduce them in the smaller yard at first until I can trust him.

Will territorial problems between my duckling drakes and my adult drake be a problem? I'm also starting to wonder if my drake will be fine once (if) they get together, or if he'll need a few more hens?

 

[chickens really]

Definitely you will have Drake issues once the Drake Ducklings mature. Depending on how many Drakes you end up with it could be totally horrid. I wait till my Ducklings can be sexed and sell off or give away all Drakes and keep one per breeding group and during breeding season they are separated.
Sure he chased the one that was out but with multiple out he should settle quickly after the initial chase..

 

[WVduckchick]

Agree with the others.
You could maybe try letting Aspen over in with Firefly for a bit, and let him get his hormones back to normal level.
My horny drake finally caught one of my young girls, she submitted, he did the deed and was all happy after that.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Definitely you will have Drake issues once the Drake Ducklings mature. Depending on how many Drakes you end up with it could be totally horrid. I wait till my Ducklings can be sexed and sell off or give away all Drakes and keep one per breeding group and during breeding season they are separated.
Sure he chased the one that was out but with multiple out he should settle quickly after the initial chase..

I know at this point which are the drakes and which are the hens in the ducklings. I can't remember the exact count, but I can go count them in a few minutes and get back to you.

And thank you for all your help.

Agree with the others.
You could maybe try letting Aspen over in with Firefly for a bit, and let him get his hormones back to normal level.
My horny drake finally caught one of my young girls, she submitted, he did the deed and was all happy after that.

Alright, thank you for the advice. That sounds like a safe option right now, once I figure out my drake problem.

 

[chickens really]

It's doesn't matter if you only have one Drake Duckling. Breeding season is hormones at the highest levels and Two Drakes will fight over one Hen even if you have 7 Hens. If you plan on keeping more than 1 Drake you will need separate pens. Drake fights are vicious and they can kill or injure a Hen once they set their sights on her. I have small Call Ducks and the fights are just as vicious if my Drakes get together by accident.