Muscovy Drake Attacking

Hi All,

I have a drake that is a year old he has always been very friendly towards people. The other morning I tried to pet him and he attacked me to the point I had to push him down on the ground and then back into his pen. Yesterday I opened the pen and he was hissing at me, as soon as I turned my back to walk away he took after me again... I think he is still upset with me over the first encounter.

I realize it is breeding season which can get everyone a little riled but I thought muscovy drakes took no part in the parenting. He was with a female who is laying but she was no where around during these two encounters. I now have him by himself.

Can anyone advise.... is there a chance he will calm down again after breeding season? Because we have had two incidents does he now view me as a threat and will continue with this bad behavior?

Thanks,
Klassy

What has happened is that you have socialized your drake to think that people are ducks. I know it is a nice idea that you want your drakes to be your pets, but in my experience this is a behaviour that cannot be reversed. This is cause by hand rearing the drakes, i.e. cuddling and petting him. He is not trying to take part in parenting, he is trying to establish dominance over you.

Once breeding season has ended in the late summer/early fall he may stop attacking but you can expect it to happen every year.

I'll add that there is a chance he'd settle down if he had some company, but he will likely still be somewhat aggressive.

My drake only ever attacked once and he got my husbands foot across the rump. He never attacked again. I agree that with drakes you don't want to make them pets if you plan to keep them around any females! The girls are ok to make buddies with but not the boys. I made sure my boy was able to be handled without too much fight, but not played with much

I had five muskovies.. finally ended up with two males and we were on good terms. Fox got one of them and the drake that was left started stalking me after about a month... I thought he was being friendly but found out his overtures were NOT good.....I couldn't believe it! No matter what I did to the critter, he became very clever in attacking me. He even waited for the "exact moment" to do his dirty tricks.

He was delicious.

Country Thyme, I have read about this.

He and another drake were purchased as ducklings last year. We played with them the first week but after that did not try to socialize them. He is a very curious guy and quite comical.  He always follows us around the yard and we pet him from time to time, not on a daily basis and once in awhile hand feed treats. We have never really tried to make them pets by cuddling. The idea was to have them tame enough that we could catch them easily when needed.

Now I am a worried about the other drake. He had a leg injury when he was little and did have a lot more attention from us caring for his injuries. So far he seems fine.... fingers crossed.

Today when I let him out and the aggressive guy was trying to get me through the wire he ran over and started trying to attack him. Their pens are side by side and they always get along being neighbors. Funny little characters, it seemed as though he was protecting me.

How unfortunate. This year the hens will be brooding so I hope I do not come across this problem again!

Smoky, I don't know if a kick in the rump will help him but it will make me feel better  

I did back away from him when he first caught me off guard. Maybe that is why he thinks he can get away with it? I am thinking I will stand my ground and see what happens.

Critter Haven perhaps him following me was indeed stalking and not curiosity. I am going to start looking for recipes.

I appreciate all of the advice!! This may sound like a stupid question.... what is the theory behind the dominance? Do they view us as a threat?

They don't so much view you as a threat just as another duck that needs to be put in her place. Try taking him and grabbing him hard and pinning him down and holding him there every time he tries to attack. You show him you are the boss it will be an ongoing thing until he decides to give I. And accept the fact that you are "top duck"

Other intact males are the same - it is said you should never make a pet of an intact ram lamb - it will be the one most likely to attack as an adult - apparently not having a fear/respect of you. I've heard llamas the same.

Hope things die down a bit once breeding season is over.

Hi!

I should have clarified in my last post to Country Thyme. I have read about the respect issues with hand raised males... actually I think there are a few posts here that talk about it.

I love this site! So many people with experience and knowledge that are willing to share!!!

If Country Thyme has observed that this can not be reversed, I may be fighting a loosing battle. I do not believe in this situation we have been too overly friendly and I am going to give Smoky's advice a try. It can't hurt and if my attempts fail I have a nice large roasting pan!

Thanks again to all who have posted!! I will let you know what happens!

Klassy  

I should clarify that I have only had this happen with drakes I have purchased from others. It has never come up with birds on our own farm and I am quite impatient with things like this and would never keep a male like this past a single breeding season. Once I've gotten his genetics, so I can't speak to whether it can be corrected but I do not think I would be easy or worth the effort if it even is possible.

Country Thyme, I agree and do not put up with aggressive behavior in my chickens. This being my first nasty duck encounter I thought I would see what others here had to say.

Yesterday afternoon we had round one and he stayed as far away from me as possible until I left the barn. When I went out last night he started again and was even more aggressive.

It would be nice to keep him around for the rest of the season as he is my largest drake but his hen has a nearly full clutch, so I have the genetics. I have a rooster up for butcher this weekend and unless this guy has a serious attitude change in the next day or two(which I doubt) he is going too.

Just wondering what the outcome was?