Hello, a couple months ago I submitted a question here and I got some great responses! Thank you all so much! But now I am in trouble again! I have 7 Rouen ducks(4 female 3 male)and the males have just resently become very aggressive. The males bite at the female's backs which are now with out any feathers. This is making the girls cold because it is winter here in Wisconsin. I tried separating them but then the males won't eat or stop squaking becuase they don't know where their "honeys" are! The females are still laying eggs but I am afraid that they are sick because 2 of the females don't walk much anymore. They just sit all day and sleep. Normally they were very active ducks. They would take themselves on walks, go swimming, and such. Please if any of you would be kind enough to help me I would greatly appreciate some information! Thanks!

-- Stacey Erdmann (erdmanns@execpc.com), March 03, 2002

Answers

The drakes are mating with the females too much, it could explain why the ducks don't want to go swimming, the breeding usually-but not always- takes place in the water. Pick the best looking drake and eat the other two. We had a duck that actuually prolapsed her oviduct and had to be killed because of this.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), March 03, 2002.

DUCKS ARNT PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ONLY EAT THEM

-- Jack Russell Vlasak (zero_cool_cs@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

You probably would do better with just one or two drakes. If you can't butcher one or two, maybe you can give them away... I hate to ask the obvious, but the two less active ducks aren't just broody, are they?

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), March 03, 2002.

I don't think I'd worry too much about it. Yes, it sounds a bit aggressive, but this is still normal mating behavior on the drakes' part. I also wouldn't be too quick to kill off "extra" drakes. Ducks form pair bonds, and with a mainly 50/50 group like you have, likely all the males are claimed by females (in ducks, the females choose their partners). You can see who belongs to who because the females will make "dit-dit, dit-dit" noises with their heads going going sideways quickly as they talk. She's telling the drake and everyone else around that that drake is hers. I'd let them stay together.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), March 03, 2002.

Stacy, this is spring. Some drakes are much rougher than others, and an overly rough drake can kill your females. This happens all the time. Do separate the rougher drakes. Do not worry about them eating or not. I separate all my drakes from the hens every spring(anyone who is seriously breeding anything, separates the sexes and picks out the best ones to breed, culls the rest)and while the drakes fuss and don't eat for a few days they soon get back to normal. I only pair up the best and the "back ups" just have to stay separate until late summer. It is not good to breed the rougher drakes anyway, you do not want to pass that tendancy along to your ducklings. Now, I have two suggestions for you: (1) Get a good book. There is no excuse for not having one, they are cheap and the best one out there for ducks is one of the cheapest. STOREYS GUIDE TO RAISING DUCKS. by Dave Holderread, an acknowledged expert on ducks. (2) For some good discussions on the care of ducks with experts,and a Poultry Vet on- line, log on to www.poultryconnection.com. There are a bunch of those going on right now about over amorous drakes and what to do about them. Dave's book even has recipes! LOL For eggs of course. Do remember, if you are going to have ducks you must face culling. It is necessary and we all must do it. Hope this helps, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), March 04, 2002.