How soon is too soon for mating?!?

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tnewton

tnewton

In the Brooder
6 Years
Dec 25, 2013
25
1
24
We have four 7-week-old ducks that we're trying to integrate into our small flock of 1-year-olds. Our only drake is about a year and a half old. The girls have mostly accepted the newbies, but our drake is constantly trying to mate with them, one in particular. If I'm in the run, he leaves them alone, but will chase them as soon as I leave. I don't know if he's been successful yet, but I have seen baby feathers from where he caught up to his favorite newbie. Is he just asserting his dominance, or truly trying to mate? Can he hurt them at this age? If so, what suggestions do you all have??
 
tnewton said:
We have four 7-week-old ducks that we're trying to integrate into our small flock of 1-year-olds. Our only drake is about a year and a half old. The girls have mostly accepted the newbies, but our drake is constantly trying to mate with them, one in particular. If I'm in the run, he leaves them alone, but will chase them as soon as I leave. I don't know if he's been successful yet, but I have seen baby feathers from where he caught up to his favorite newbie. Is he just asserting his dominance, or truly trying to mate? Can he hurt them at this age? If so, what suggestions do you all have??
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Do not put 7 week old ducklings in with a mature drake he can injure them, traumatize them too. They need to be as large as the adults before they become one flock. Most drakes are respective of a young duck and will not mate till around 4 months of age some drakes are just so full of hormones it doesn't seem to matter. and he could be showing dominance but why put a 7 week old ducking through that. Keep the babies separate with fencing and let them all get use to one another and the babies grow up.
 
7 weeks old is defiantly to young for mating to actually be successful. If their not laying then they shouldn't be mating. Now I don't doubt he is trying to mate with them, their probably smaller and weaker than the other girls therefor its easier. I would separate the young girls and put a fence between them and the rest of the flock so they get to now each other through a barrier until their big enough to defend themselves. If any of them are walking funny or not eating I would be worried.
 
Thank you for your advice. We've had the babies in a small coop inside the run so that everyone could get used to each other. I think that's why the big girls are much bothered by the babies. But the drake can't seem to stay away from them. I think we can fence off an area that's big enough for them to have their own kiddie pool, and yet still leave the biggest area for the older ducks. Hopefully it will work out when we try integrating them again. Thanks again!
 

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