Separating drakes from ducks in coop at night?

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Yes, I am aware of the relationship between daylight hours and eggs. I am not that concerned with winter production this year, only 2 of the 4 females began laying in late fall. I'm just holding out until spring for the other two to start and for the others to resume laying. I do plan to supplement lighting next year, though.
My concern is over mating while locked in the coop overnight. The drakes haven't seemed overly aggressive so far but because they just reached maturity this fall, I'm not sure if, perhaps, they may becoming a bit more so, now- although, still during the day, I've never noticed any behaviour that is concerning. It's just all the feathers I find in the morning that I'm wondering about.
 
Last edited:
Cred said:
Yes, I am aware of the relationship between daylight hours and eggs. I am not that concerned with winter production this year, only 2 of the 4 females began laying in late fall. I'm just holding out until spring for the other two to start and for the others to resume laying. I do pal to supplement alighting next year, though.
My concern is overeating while locked in the coop overnight. The drakes haven't seemed overly aggressive so far but because they just reached maturity this fall, I'm not sure if, perhaps, they may becoming a bit more so, now- although, still during the day, I've never noticed any behaviour that is concerning. It's just all the feathers I find in the morning that I'm wondering about.
Click to expand...
Can you tell by looking who is missing feathers? someone maybe getting picked on. You might want to split your duck house and have drakes on one side and ducks on the other. My females get to have their nights with out the drake to hassle them.
 
While the feathers I find are from both breeds I have, this morning I could tell my one welshie female is the one you see is missing some feathers. No bare patches but I'd noticed last week that she no longer has the blue bar feathers on her wings.
I'd separated them for two nights this week but found it hard to tell if it had helped much because there were still some feathers in the morning (i collect them daily from the coop so I can tell how many are lost during the night. After not separating last night, I did notice more than when I had.
Because I have to catch each drake and put them into the divided side, I didn't want to do so unless necessary- it's easy enough and doesn't seem to stress them terribly but that had been my concern.
However, I have decided to separate them overnight.
Miss Lydia, how big are you ducks stalls for the females? I do like this idea. And do the drakes stay out of the stalls?

Thanks to everyone who took a moment to reply.
 
Last edited:
Cred said:
While the feathers I find are from both breeds I have, this morning I could tell my one welshie female is the one you see is missing some feathers. No bare patches but I'd noticed last week that she no longer has the blue bar feathers on her wings.
I'd separated them for two nights this week but found it hard to tell if it had helped much because there were still some feathers in the morning (i collect them daily from the coop so I can tell how many are lost during the night. After not separating last night, I did notice more than when I had.
Because I have to catch each drake and put them into the divided side, I didn't want to do so unless necessary- it's easy enough and doesn't seem to stress them terribly but that had been my concern.
However, I have decided to separate them overnight.
Miss Lydia, how big are you ducks stalls for the females? I do like this idea. And do the drakes stay out of the stalls?

Thanks to everyone who took a moment to reply.
Click to expand...
My drake has his own stall I'll get you measurements. At one time I had more than one drake so when we built our ducks house we had to go with stalls to keep the drakes from fighting and keeping everyone stressed out it has worked out great. At one time some of my females shared a stall but I have lost 4 to old age in the last couple of years so now each of my females has their own bedroom[ that is what I call the stalls]
 
Thanks for measuring @miss Lydia. And yes, I'd love to see pics if you have some.
 
It's not pretty but very functional and can be used for brooding and nursery too.

900x900px-LL-3f2b948d_Coopsandstalls007.jpeg
Actually it does look better I painted the front of the stalls.
 
That's great, Miss Lydia. Thanks so much for sharing the photos. I'll have to give some thought to my coop and how I'll modify it for their new nighttime arrangements.
And thank you, I really appreciate all your feedback.
 

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