Aylesbury ducks

[ursa1]

Is it common for male aylesbuy ducks to pull out feathers, peck and nearly drown the females while mating? This is their first breeding year and I have equal numbers of each duck.

[Thunderbird+]

Yes its very common, I've had to step in to rescue females on many occaisions to isolate it til it recovers.

[ursa1]

Thanks Thunderbird, any idea how long to keep them separated? they also don't sit on the eggs! can I expect any baby aylsbury's this year?

[softspot]

Mine used to bury their eggs quite deep in the straw we used for bedding, which must have kept them warm, we never seperated the sexes and no problems appart from the 'near drowning' experiences. Your should get ducklings this year, think its 28 days or something like that.

[ursa1]

Thanks again for your answers