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goldenpond_gw

Violent Duck mating rituals. SCARY!!!!!

goldenpond
14 years ago

Since there seems to be alot of interest in Ducks right now I thought we should discuss something that CAN be quite disturbing to new duck owners and that is the males abusive behavior to his females.

I knew it was out there and did NOT want males but my husband did. One has turned out to be the pimp. He controls his women. While some birds mate for life Ducks are VERY promiscuous.

The pimp and other males gang up and make sure the female stays put for the act. They often gang up on the females and have blinded one by pecking her eyes while mating. Lately they all seem to be pecking the females' eyes while mating and we fear we will have a blind flock! Do any of you have this problem?

Ours are pets so we hate the thought of parting with our buddies but I still think we should have gotten females only . Of course one was a sexing error and some were from a NON sexed batch.

Please add your duck mating thoughts for those considering pet ducks.

Just something else for those wanting ducks to think about.I would have posted pictures but didnt want to be accused of ducky porn.

Comments (13)

  • seamommy
    14 years ago

    I think I'd try to separate all of the males except one from your females, then there wouldn't be any competition or gang-banging going on. And frankly, any eye-pecking males would be dinner toot-sweet at my house, pets or no pets. If you couldn't bear to eat them, you could always give them their freedom at a local lake. Cheryl

  • goldenpond
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Originally I tried to give a male away and they brought him back because he pecked their females eyes,This was before I realized it was going on but it is not only him. I will have to think about maybe selling them on Craigs list or giving them away,not sure hubby would approve he was so mad when I did the first give away!So were my kids and they are all in their Thirties!!!

  • eric_wa
    14 years ago

    Tanya,

    You are giving your age away. lol,

    Never seen eye pecking or gouging in my ducks. The females lose head feathers where the male cling on. Some were getting a little sore on top. I no longer have drakes. They are just mouths to feed with no return. You don't need drakes for eggs add you can't breed hybrids anyway.

    Cherly, Boo! never release domestic ducks into the local lakes. Bad idea. Get you dogs and cats fixed also.

    Eric

  • goldenpond
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    Actually I still have one in his twenties and the other 2 are early thirties but I didnt think anyone would be paying attention! Shame on me!
    I agree wholeheartedly on keeping non producing males . I will have to copy this and send to my husband to get him to agree though.
    I won't let them loose they have been brought up being housed at night and fed and babied so they would be in big trouble on their own.
    I have a beautiful black male runner duck that I am sure someone would want and maybe the Roen, I wonder about the fair? It is coming up.

  • gardengalrn
    14 years ago

    I don't have ducks but I do know my roosters can be hard on the girls. I have an Iowa Blue and his son and they both seem to have favorites to mate with. I have two hens right now with bare lower backs where they climb on. I don't think they are being cruel, though. Those male ducks just sound cruel and I think I would get rid of them for the best of the flock. It sounds like this is a behavior they won't lose very soon. Lori

  • seamommy
    14 years ago

    You can boo if you want to, but the local wild life has to eat to survive too, owls, hawks, foxes, coyotes would all benefit from a healthy meal of duck. I know it sounds cold-hearted, but remember that natures balance depends on the predators survival as well as animals who rank lower on the food chain. And a (formerly) pampered pet would be easy game to a predator.

    "Fish gotta swim, birds gotta eat," - the helpful pelecan in 'Finding Nemo'.

    I don't think eye pecking is a mating ritual, it's aberrant behavior probably brought on by overcrowding and possibly by competition among the males. If releasing them into the wild is cruel, why don't you think allowing them to peck the eyes out of the females is cruel? I bet those female ducks would agree with me, if they had a vote on the issue.

    Cheryl

  • eric_wa
    14 years ago

    Cheryl,

    Nature would be more in balance if man would stop meddling. Here on the Island we had a hare problem. Introduced hares left over from a rabbit operation. I believe they were released when they closed up shop. So the NPS decides to bring in the Red Tailed Fox. What do you know, we now are over run by Red Tailed foxes! The farmers shoot the fox and feed the eagles. Similar store with Starlings.

    My ducks and rabbits may be pampered but they are far from being pets. They are egg and meat production. Good animal husbandry requires culling and inviting them to dinner is my solution.

    Eric

  • calliope
    14 years ago

    I don't raise ducks......chicken lady here and occasional geese, so I am going to ask a question. Eric, you said you can't breed hybrid ducks. I know in chickens, the chicks won't end up the same breed ( I raise Golden Comets, a hybrid), but if that were not an issue, why can't you breed hybrid ducks? Thanks.

  • eric_wa
    14 years ago

    calliope,

    My statement is not exactly correct. You are correct, they won't breed true. Campbells, I believe are a three way mix and White layers are a hybrid of the Campbell duck. If you throw Muscovy into the mix, you end up with mules. Sterile ducks.

    So, you can breed them.

    Eric

  • calliope
    14 years ago

    Thanks. I read somewhere there is a duck who will produce 'mules' when bred with 'egging' ducks, but wasn't sure what line or how commonly they are used. So, if you threw Muscovey into the mix with egging campbells, the only use the offspring would be good for is meat production?

  • eric_wa
    14 years ago

    Calliope,

    "offspring would be good for is meat production"

    Yes, I guess so, but why would you want to? Why ruin a perfect meat bird like Muscovy with a egg laying breed. Maybe you would have a one off interesting looking duck?? Pets

    Eric

  • calliope
    14 years ago

    LOL I told you I didn't know anything about ducks.

  • Kathy Girard
    3 years ago

    My drake is also pecking eyes and he has no competition and 5 girls to choose from. I think he is about to become dinner.