20 Mallard TSC ducklings and questions...

[ChickNMallardMomma]

I recently (this past weekend) acquired some Mallard babes. The poor things were marked down to 50% off becuase they were getting flighty and hard to keep in their bins at TSC. I was originally only gonna get 12 (6 at a time was the minimum) and when I boxed them up there were only 8 left. So I got suckered and they got homed.
My plan is to keep as many females as I end up with for eggs and maybe 1-2 males depending on the number of gals I get. The rest will be culled for the table.
Questions:

At what age can you tell the difference in sex in mallards ??

At what age do you begin clipping wings if so inclined ?? and is it like clipping a parakeets wings only on a larger scale??
(not sure I WANT to clip them yet just want to be prepared in case I have to)

When providing flooring for their pens/coop is hay/straw ok?

At what age do they typically feather out??
and is this when they can swim or does that happen prior to feathering??

When culling is it necessary to hang the bird out?? (i know you do for bleeding but i read somewhere that you should hang them out for days... what does this do to the meat?)

I have raised chickens, but never ducks. Will they get along with the chickens? Currently have 5 adult chickens and 24 chicks.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. I simply wish to provide the best care and happy environment for the ducklings ... including the meat birds... until their end.

 

[1lpoock]

At what age can you tell the difference in sex in mallards ??

The drakes won't get their colorful plumage until about 5 months or so, but when they start to quack, which should be in a few weeks, the females have a loud quack while the males have a raspy little voice.

At what age do you begin clipping wings if so inclined ?? and is it like clipping a parakeets wings only on a larger scale??
(not sure I WANT to clip them yet just want to be prepared in case I have to)

You can clip them once they get their flight feathers in, which I believe is around a few months old. Not sure what clipping a parakeets feathers is like but here is a good picture for ducks' feathers. You want to clip the first 8 or 9 primary feathers.

When providing flooring for their pens/coop is hay/straw ok?

Probably go with straw over hay, also some people use pine wood shavings.

At what age do they typically feather out??
and is this when they can swim or does that happen prior to feathering??

They can swim from day one, but I usually don't let mine swim until a week or so. They usually feather out around 5 weeks or more.

When culling is it necessary to hang the bird out?? (i know you do for bleeding but i read somewhere that you should hang them out for days... what does this do to the meat?)

Not sure on that one, sorry.

I have raised chickens, but never ducks. Will they get along with the chickens? Currently have 5 adult chickens and 24 chicks.

The adult chickens might not get along with them, but the chicks should. I suggest if you can to have a seperate pen or area for the ducks.​

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I have raised chickens, but never ducks. Will they get along with the chickens? Currently have 5 adult chickens and 24 chicks.

The adult chickens might not get along with them, but the chicks should. I suggest if you can to have a seperate pen or area for the ducks.
​

 

[ChickNMallardMomma]

Thanks to the both of you for the info... very helpful. I do indeed have a separate coop area w/ built on run that I can use for the ducklings instead of housing them with the chickens... mostly I was curious if I was going to have to let them out separately as I allow my chickens and fully intend to give the ducks free range times every day. The only reason I don't free range full time with the coop as their nesting/sleeping quarters only is simply because my dog fence broke and I don't trust my dogs a single iota if I am not out with them. They listen famously when I am outside... even i I am in the front of the property and not out by the coops. But the instant I go inside... forget it.

I will probably do pine shavings since that is what I already have for the chickens coop. So no worries there

The wing clipping is a LOT like parakeets only on a much larger scale lol. (i clip 5 or 6 of the flight feathers on my budgies. ) Though not sure if I will clip.... Do they tend to fly off ?? I really wouldnt have a problem with them flying off and coming back but some neighbors might. People out here are kinda funny that way even though we are in the country.

For the hanging... I actuallytalked to my mamaw yesterday and while she doesn't have duck rearing experience she definitely has the chicken rearing and culling know how. She told me that they never hung out the birds and she wouldnt advise it because of all the different bacteria that can collect on the meat. She is also going to come out and assist me with culling when the time comes in exchange for some farm raised meat

YAY! Gotta love the mamaw!

A question I forgot to add... I read that the ratio drake to duck is 1:3-5 ... is that a must or can you keep more ducks and still just one drake? Are the ratio guidelines just to ensure fertility?

Also... what is the preffered age for culling ? I know in chickens it is typically 16-24 weeks... Is this the same for duck? Going to surf through more posts and see what I can find... I have found a lot of info in the meatbirds and the duck sections ... so if I ask too many already answered questions feel free not to answer.

Thanks again!

~Sami