Drake/Duck Ratio

[dogkahuna]

Adding ducks to our operation. We want to start small like we did with chickens and grow the flock organically. I understand that a 1 to 6 drake to duck ratio is optimum and am considering whether 1 to 9 or 2 to 8 would be better. (Metzer Farms has a 10 duckling minimum delivery.)

Any opinions?

 

[blackdust951]

what breeds are you considering? if you want to try 2 to 8 i suggest trying the heavier breeds for 1 to 9 try a light breed i hope this was helpful

 

[dogkahuna]

what breeds are you considering? if you want to try 2 to 8 i suggest trying the heavier breeds for 1 to 9 try a light breed i hope this was helpful

Thanks! Mostly small with 1-2 Rouen.

 

[Ducks106]

Adding ducks to our operation. We want to start small like we did with chickens and grow the flock organically. I understand that a 1 to 6 drake to duck ratio is optimum and am considering whether 1 to 9 or 2 to 8 would be better. (Metzer Farms has a 10 duckling minimum delivery.)

Any opinions?

I just ordered from Metzer tonight. Just 2 blue Swedish. You can order just 1 if you want to!

 

[Kiki to Nana]

I have 1 to 3 right now it's fine. Our drake is even fine with 1 to 1. I guess 2 drakes can encourage each other to be more randy but... I don't see anything wrong with 2 drakes 6 hens. You really don't need 1 to 6. It's honestly a myth and all comes from personal experience/feedback. It's just a safe assumption people believe.

 

[chickens really]

I keep 1 Drake to 2 Hens...Many people I know have 1 Drake and 1 Hen...The only issues that arise is during breeding season when Drakes fight and usually over the same Hen so she gets over bred or injured...

 

[Ducks106]

Adding ducks to our operation. We want to start small like we did with chickens and grow the flock organically. I understand that a 1 to 6 drake to duck ratio is optimum and am considering whether 1 to 9 or 2 to 8 would be better. (Metzer Farms has a 10 duckling minimum delivery.)

Any opinions?

You can order just 1 if you want from Metzer there is no minimum

 

[dogkahuna]

Yeah I got that....

 

[Duckstruck]

I had five females to one male, and it proved to be a disaster (3 buff, 3 pekin). The drake was a *cough cough* very busy pekin. He over-mated all my females, leaving the back of their heads covered in bloody scabs and would repick them when he decided to mate again. Fast forward a year, one of my ducks is crippled and another was so wounded, she was put down.
I don't know much about other people's experiences, but keep note of the size of the drake in comparison of the females. My mistake was mixing medium ducks with a large drake.
Good luck!

 

[dogkahuna]

Excellent point--I've settled on 8 hens and 2 drakes and I selected mid-sized, hopefully calmer drakes (Cayuga, Buff) to minimize wear and tear on the hens. Familiar with overzealous mating in my chicken flock, so know how to separate boys or girls out as needed. Thanks!