New to Muscovies

SouthernAlberta said:

How does a drake change the dynamic? My critters are pets first.

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Because drakes want to mate, they also can be aggressive... many people have quite the stories of being attacked by them, i don't and would never keep a drake like that, but it does happen. I keep many drakes, a specific line has to be there, they have to know you are flock master not a flock member lol

Drakes are not like roosters they don't protect their flock does that mean some don't wander with their chosen ladies and watch, yes some do, i have those here and then i have some who would bail the second there was trouble or wander off and not even care if their lady friends were acres back.

Not all ducks appreciate drakes or their advances i have some girls here who specifically choose to avoid them.. which they can, i always watch my ladies are not being bullied or over bred by over zealous drakes.

Also worth mentioning, drakes are known baby(ducklings killers) i have not had this happen but something to consider if breeding, i always watch my boys with the young but am prepared to remove if needed..

Drakes can be lovely but when running a mixed sex flock it changes the dynamics it will never be like a singular sex flock.

You mean bringing a drake in by having the ducks hatch and raise it/>? tricky, i'll be honest my older ducks are ABOVE the young drakes here.. they would clean their clocks if they so much as looked at them sideways... er.. and have lol

Unfortunately, bringing in older or same aged drakes doesn't guarantee a thing either.. drakes can bully females and some females dislike the advances overall. Muscovy have quite the pecking order something i find most don't speak of but it's strong and well defined in my flock, despite having a few quacking(Mallard breeds in the mix)

No, I'd like more females, but I'm thinking of getting fertile eggs and letting these girls hatch for me. I don't need to keep boys for anything but meat.