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Farming Friends Forum » Ducks

1. gillybean65
   Member

   My drake has drowned my 3 ducklings is this normal behaviour they are 3 weeks old as you can imagine I am totally devastated and is it worth letting my ducks hatch any more?

   thanks for any advice

   Posted 9 months ago #

2. campbell ridge
   Administrator

   That's very sad and it does happen on occasions. If you want her to raise more then you will have to keep him away from them as soon as they have hatched til they are at least 6-8 weeks old. He will unfortunately still attack any young drakes after this so you will need to have new homes lined up for them.
   Not all drakes behave in this way but he will do it again.
   Sarah

   Sarah L

   Posted 9 months ago #

3. m40mo
   Administrator

   so sorry to read this, poor ducklings, how awful for you and mummy duck to, I agree with Sarahs advice to you, I wonder if she will go broody again this year having lost her babies or if she will wait now until next spring,
   Even though it would need doing 8 weeks is a long time to have to keep your drake on his own so you have to ask yourself if its worth doing at all really knowing what you do now

   mo x

   Posted 9 months ago #

4. gillybean65
   Member

   thanks for your advice we are so upset about the whole thing and as I have hatched my first gang out in an incubator am thinking of going down that route again so as not to upset the balance of things. Gladys (mummy duck) seems to be OK after searching for them for 2 days and has started to lay again although no sign of her being broody. I will let you know what happens thank you again this forum has been a god send for me

   Gill x

   Posted 9 months ago #

5. Mama
   Member

   So sorry Gill,it does happen but forwarened is forarmed .Seems you will have to seperate :( Mama

   Goose Girl

   Posted 9 months ago #

6. duskhunter
   Member

   Really sorry to hear about the sad event Gill, sometimes nature doesn't make a lot of sense. The male lion can do the same to his own cubs so the female keeps them away.

   We lost two of our ducks through the drake mating them too long on the water and they drowned so I know a little of your sadness.

   We separated the drakes from the females and they were fine because they could see one another and their run was large. The females spent quite a lot of time sitting next to the boys' run which seemed to suit them all, however, we had more than one drake to keep each other company.

   Donald our Khaki Campbell drake had always been mercilessly bullied by the Kray twins to the point of them tearing him to pieces but he was nevertheless desperate to join them, he paced up and down their wire partition till he wore a muddy track. When we finally let them in together the twins gave him a perfunctory chase snaking their necks and then left him alone.

   I suppose the ladies and breeding season heighten all their senses and now that they have their new summer coats and less testosterone the drakes are getting on as though they have always been together.

   All boys girls mums and dads are in the same house and pond since the youngest duckling was 7 weeks old and all is calm.

   Good luck with your next attempt.
   Angela

   Posted 9 months ago #

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