My duck is mounting my hen....

[once227]

I have a pair of ducks and 8 hens that have coexist in the pen together and recently we have found him "mounting" one hen. Any suggestions on what we can do to prevent this. I'm not trying to be funny but the hen seems to like it. She is now missing feathers on the back of her head from him bitting but she doesn't run or give up any type of fight.

 

[Virus]

There's really nothing you can do to stop it unless you separate him from the girls. It's normal for them to pull out feather, they bite them to first get the female to lay down then to hold on while they do their thing. She wants to hatch babies so she's letting him breed her. Unless there's carnage you shouldn't worry. Unless you don't want ducklings, just take eggs the day they're laid and put the them in the fridge and they won't hatch. If one goes broody you can take the eggs from under her and get her off the nest.

 

[once227]

I think you miss read that. He is mounting a hen...One of my Chickens. So I'm not sure that the egg would become fertile.

 

[Virus]

Oh. Well female ducks are called hens as well, sorry. You should probably put the ducks in a different run if you don't want him to keep doing this. Ducks could seriously hurt chickens by trying to mate them so it's best to just not give him give him a chance to.

 

[once227]

I didn't know that. My wife just had to get two little cute ducklings and now they are old and my problem....haha. seperating isn't an option due to our small property. Ok. Thank you for your advice and knowledge.

 

[PotatoWaffles]

Are both ducks male? The drake will continue to mate your hens if you allow them to live in the same run. Male ducks have "equipment" while roosters do not, so a drake and chicken hen have incompatible parts, if you catch my drift. Drakes can injure chickens if they try to mate them.

If your wife isn't too attached to them but still is set on having ducks, you may be able to compromise. You could get rid of the drakes and order two sexed female ducklings from a hatchery online, like Metzer or Meyer. There are lots of hatcheries that sell sexed chicks via mail. If you don't havery the heart to butcher, you can try re homing them, or even try your local shelter. One of the shelters near here will take any kind of farm animals. If she doesn't want to get rid of them, the best option would be to somehow separate them. You could also try adding a few female ducks to your flock and a kiddie pool. Drakes much prefer to mate on water, so if he sees females smashing around, it may take his attention from the hens a bit.

Good luck!

 

[once227]

Thanks for the advice. We have one & one as for the ducks. A kiddie pool is also provided. That is what baffles me. Why is he going for the chicken instead. . . Oh well. I'm at the point we're I'm already trying to re-home the ducks. Butchering will get me in the dog house so that is last option.

I figured I would ask for some advice in hopes that there would be some what of an easier way. Thank you again.