[Fifitrix]

Is this ok?!  :blink: :blink:

I've had Mr & Mrs Runner in with my 3 chickens since they were babies.  Now Mrs Runner has started laying and Mr Runner has become extremely randy.

He can't cope when he comes out in the morning unless he's mounted every bird in site.  I've tried to keep him off the chickens but it's impossible.

Do I have to move him?  Because if I do I'll need to get rid of him as I don't have any other room. 

[animal mad]

my muscovy male duck has tried it on with the chickens as well but he got a nasty peck above his beck and seems to be happy with his two girls now, well hopefully. but i have to pen my chickens up when i am not about just to make sure there isnt any further problems.sorry i cant be any more help but i think it is quite normal for male ducks.

[matilda duck]

It's that time of year I'm affraid. My cockerel has tried it  on with my ducks, he came off quite bad. See how it goes a bit longer, it should soon calm down.

[ruralczech]

I used to have a muskovy drake who even made advances toward the cat when she was sleeping nearby and when I got tired with next doors chickens getting into the veg I encouraged the muskovy in with them, the chickens left quickly but the cockerel needed some extra loving attention from the drake to be persuaded to stay on his side of the fence..
Its normal and your drake will calm down soon but if have room for a couple more ducks it will take his attention away from the chickens and give Mrs Runner a breather.

[Foxy]

I have a slightly different problem, yesterday let the runners and muscovies out together, then to my surprise spotted a drake my top drake Pretzel being dragged around squealing by a Muscovy duck! She is rather amorous at the moment though!

[mumofstig]

The mind boggles   

[lisa123]

  its nice to see a female in control lol

[Fifitrix]

Thanks for all your reassurance.  So do they only get overly amorous at this time of year?

You think it will settle down?

Unfortunately he has bullied one of my chickens to a point that she is nearly featherless.  Naturally I have now removed her from the pen which isn't ideal for all sorts of reasons mainly that she's on her own now.  But she was in a terrible state when I finally removed her and the damage seemed to have got really bad in just a very small amount of time.

I'm now wondering if I need to try and rehome the ducks with someone else which is a shame as we thought they were lovely until the drake got so agressive.

Any advice is still really welcome.  Thanks so much

[Sassy]

I know people who successfully keep chickens and ducks together but have read advising against it because of this problem. It can only be trial and error. Getting another couple of ducks may help.

[Fifitrix]

Thanks for your reply.  Sadly I don't have room to house more ducks.  I am on my limit now.

The drake is now really going for another chicken.  She's young so can run away more easily but she makes a very unhappy noise as he goes for her neck all the time.

Interestingly he's not at all bothered with my 3rd chicken.  I'm guessing it's all to do with who's in lay.

It is quite distressing and I do feel like a traffic warden in the run first thing in the morning!

[joyfull]

perhaps you may have to look at rehoming your drake or at least keeping him seperate until after his mating season