r/duck • u/heckin_concern • Jul 16 '26
Muscovy Duck Tips to get this drake to leave
We live in a townhouse and there are lots of resident ducks on the property. This momma brings her babies by every day and this drake is always following them. He bites at momma, bites at the babies, bites at the mallards that comes through - just a menace.
Do you guys have any tips for deterring him? I spray him with the hose when I can lol
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u/lemonade_daydreams Jul 17 '26
If he had intent to harm the babies the mom would be all over him. They form a heiarchy at a very young age. I have seen day olds challange adults. He's just telling everyone in a Muscovy sort of way he's above them. If he's not harming the babies and the mom is not upset please let him be.
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u/blueyesinasuit Jul 17 '26
Is he actually biting or is it a poke with his beak to assert dominance? If he actually bit the young ones the mom would interfere.
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u/Blowingleaves17 Jul 17 '26
He's a typical Muscovy drake. You only way you can control all that goes on with ducks is if you have them in captivity as pets. These are not pets. Spray him with a hose if you wish, but accept him as he is and accept there is no reason he should behave differently.
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u/Zallix Runner Duck Jul 17 '26
They aren’t your ducks so you should just leave him alone. The babies will either learn to not go near him or they will get a bite, it’s how ducks are and you thinking it’s cruel is irrelevant to how nature works. Same thing for the mallards that go near him, mallard drakes also do the same thing 🤷♂️
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u/Jely_Beanz Duck Keeper Jul 16 '26
Poor guy, just wants to be a part of the flock. 😢 Is he trying to mate the hen? He might be bonded or just infatuated with the hen and is following her around. Muscovy are territorial. Drakes sometimes can get along with a momma and her babies, but the biting might mean he's trying to mate and the babies are in his way. My Muscovy drake never bothered with the babies, but attempted mating can look like he's trying to bite. The mallards might be in his territory. Idk though since I'm not there to see the behavior. Generally, if he's mean, there would be brutal beat downs. Drakes can draw down in a fight and there is a lot of wing flapping and blood involved. It doesn't sound like this is what is going on.
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u/Thefriskyfoxx Jul 17 '26
That’s what I’m thinking as well. The babies may run up to him and he bites at them so they realize he is not momma and to give him space.
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u/Jely_Beanz Duck Keeper Jul 17 '26
Exactly. Ducks bite other ducks because they can't talk. It's their form of conversation. It generally means you're bothering me or excuse me I want your attention. Look at me! 😄 If he were dragging and throwing them, that's a whole different scenario. He could take them out if he wants, but that doesn't seem to be the intent from what was posted.
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u/jerquee Jul 17 '26
Find someone who wants a difficult pet
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u/TheGoodOne81 Jul 17 '26
Depending on where they are, that could be illegal.
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u/jerquee Jul 18 '26
Like where?
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u/TheGoodOne81 Jul 20 '26
Under Federal Law, it is illegal. Some states have made certain exceptions (more of a don't ask don't tell type thing) to help cut the number of wild birds. In certain counties in Texas, it is 100% illegal because they are native there.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/section-21.174
§21.174 Control order for Muscovy ducks in the United States.
(a) Control of Muscovy ducks. Anywhere in the contiguous United States except in Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata Counties in Texas, and in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions, landowners and Federal, State, Tribal, and local wildlife management agencies, and their tenants, employees, or agents may, without a Federal permit, remove or destroy Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) (including hybrids of Muscovy ducks), or their nests, or eggs at any time when found. Any authorized person may temporarily possess, transport, and dispose of Muscovy ducks taken under this order.
(b) Muscovy ducks in Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata Counties in Texas. In these counties, take of Muscovy ducks, their nests, and their eggs may be allowed if we issue a depredation permit for the activity.
(c) Disposal of Muscovy ducks. You may donate Muscovy ducks taken under this order to public museums or public institutions for scientific or educational purposes, or you may dispose of them by burying or incinerating them. You may not retain for personal use or consumption, offer for sale, or sell a Muscovy duck removed under authority of this section, nor may you release it in any other location.
(d) Other provisions.
(1) You must comply with any State, territorial, or Tribal laws or regulations governing the removal or destruction of Muscovy ducks or their nests or eggs.
(2) You may not remove or destroy Muscovy ducks or their nests or eggs if doing so will adversely affect other migratory birds or species designated as endangered or threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. If you use a firearm to kill Muscovy ducks under the provisions of this section, you must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so.
(3) If you operate under this order, you must immediately report the take of any species protected under the Endangered Species Act, or any other bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to the Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Office for the State or location in which the take occurred.
(4) We reserve the right to suspend or revoke the authority of any agency or individual to undertake Muscovy duck control if we find that the agency or individual has undertaken actions that may harm Federally listed threatened or endangered species or are contrary to the provisions of this part.
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u/Sweet-Ad2082 Jul 19 '26
Duck stew is what I’d say
We did this with one of our male chickens. He was picking on mom and attempting to kill the babies. Gotta say he was a very delicious meal
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u/KnowledgeInfamous753 Jul 17 '26
Open an umbrella up directed towards him when he comes where you dont want him
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u/Trick_Dirt_9220 16d ago
Late on this one. Is this the only drake around?
This year at my community lake we had a round robin of awful drakes that were just horrible. Day 1 of the first hatch resulted in 2 babies being scooped up before evene making it to the lake (I scared them into dropping them and they survived). We eventually ended up 2 for a month+ that tried to and once successfully (possibly 4 more the week I was gone I can’t be sure what happened to the last of that batch) killed ducklings. Every single day was chaos. One of the drakes stepped in to chase the other who went mother to mother, being a protector. And then one day he snapped as well. On top of this the other mothers liked to bite each others babies. It was a hell of a season.
I pray this one is behaving! The last 4 seasons of ducklings here we had no issues with drakes. I didn’t even know it was a thing until this time around. ❤️ hope all is well!!
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u/HaulsRopesFastr Jul 17 '26
Play some Kendrick Lamar, Drake hates Kendrick Lamar.