Straight run ducklings from TSC have higher than natural male to female ratios of duck. This is because some (?all) of the male sexed ducklings end up back in with the unsexed ducklings. If you do not want any drakes, you need to pay more and get sexed ducklings from a hatchery. My son was lucky and got two females and one male in his 'day old ducklings' from Tractor Supplies. But other people we know ended up with all drakes or too many drakes.
IF I try again I'm thinking about getting sexed females from Meyer Hatchery.
Most of my ducks steer clear of the chickens. Just one is aggressive apart from an occasional nip. My drakes couldn't care less now that they have receptive girls. I have one duck that actually was blinded in one eye by a broody chicken
How would you define nice? Human tolerant and behaving or actively friendly towards humans and behaving?
that’s a good question. my gander behaves better than my drakes did. he actually listens to me and tries to behave even though i can tell it’s hard for him . my drakes were human tolerant but not friendly.. the main problem i had was the drake fighting with and picking on some of the older girls. i think they just didn’t want to be bossed around by a drake. so to me a nice drake wills be one who manages his girls without beating them up and kicking them out of the coop in the freezing rain
Okay. I was just curious, cause I know some people consider anything good to the flock as friendly and some only consider ones that act like dogs do with people as friendly
I have a nice drake! Not so nice with other drakes involved
but great on his own. The love he has for his hens is clear. He’s at the top of the pecking order, but still lets his hens eat first. I’ve seen one of my hens challenge him before, and he’s stern in his placement, but not mean. Doesn’t chase, doesn’t demand. I got very lucky with this boy!!
