[Flora]

I have had a pair of Indian runner ducks for two years or so, which have have happily co existed with my hens until now. However the drake has started attacking the hens (only one variety: the Aracauna's) and has now in fact killed one of the hens. I have put the ducks in a separate enclosure with a pond and the duck as usual seems happy but the drake is furious. This is a pity because I got them to keep the slugs down and of course they can't do that restricted to a pen. Has anyone else experience of a drake suddenly behaving like this ? He was so nice to start with and now he's a murderer!

[harmony]

Attacking in what way?

[Flora]

The Drake bites the neck and head of the hen, chases the hen and harries it round the yard till someone scares him off. Obviously when he killed the hen no one was around to save it.

[adamhfc]

You need more ducks to split his attention Drake's between

[harmony]

Agree with adamhfc. He is trying to tread your hens not kill them.

[Flora]

Thanks all. More ducks surely  the answer. Or the poultry sale!

[Bobie]

Hi, I agree, he needs some girlie ducks, he is trying to mate with your hens. I also had an runner duck do the same thing to my hens, we had to separate him and get him his own wives, my hubby said that we will end up with a new breed of "Chuck" if we were not careful lol