Adding Ducks

[SuffolkGirl]

Hello me again!
So Winstons leg is on the mend. Thankfully. Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post about him it was very helpful
I’m now thinking about adding to my flock once he is fully better. My friend I got the two boys from is going to have one boy back.
So that leaves me with just Winston. I’m thinking of adding three runners...
However... every time I seem to decide how many I want I talk myself out of it. Then I worry will the boys like not being with each other any more. Will the runners be ok with Winston as he’s a rather large duck. Do I leave the two as they are. Do I have more boys instead of girls. What do I do?!
I think I need someone to give me a bit of a slap and tell me what’s the best thing to do lol.
sorry it’s a bit of a ramble but my brain can’t make a decision!

 

[Isaac 0]

Glad to hear Winston is doing better!

So let me get this straight, your friend is taking some of your other ducks, so it'll just be Winston and you're looking to buy/get him some friends, correct?

You *may* get away with keeping him with the other two drakes, but sometimes it doesn't work out, In my opinion, its a little risky. If I were you. I'd find four-ish female Heavyweight breeds for him first, then sell the other ducks. I don't think I'd keep him with Runner's, as he may be a little rough on them given his weight.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Hello me again!
So Winstons leg is on the mend. Thankfully. Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post about him it was very helpful
I’m now thinking about adding to my flock once he is fully better. My friend I got the two boys from is going to have one boy back.
So that leaves me with just Winston. I’m thinking of adding three runners...
However... every time I seem to decide how many I want I talk myself out of it. Then I worry will the boys like not being with each other any more. Will the runners be ok with Winston as he’s a rather large duck. Do I leave the two as they are. Do I have more boys instead of girls. What do I do?!
I think I need someone to give me a bit of a slap and tell me what’s the best thing to do lol.
sorry it’s a bit of a ramble but my brain can’t make a decision!

Glad Winstons recovering !

I suppose it depends if you see eggs / ducklings in your future ? If its a yes, then you need females, if its a no, then the bromance can continue !

Alternatively you could fully submerge yourself in the life and get them three females each.....

To Isaac's point though, it doesnt guarantee that things would work out but, they 'should'.

Nice that the seller will take the other boy back too if thats the way you want to go.

Keep us updated please !

 

[SuffolkGirl]

Glad Winstons recovering !

I suppose it depends if you see eggs / ducklings in your future ? If its a yes, then you need females, if its a no, then the bromance can continue !

Alternatively you could fully submerge yourself in the life and get them three females each.....

To Isaac's point though, it doesnt guarantee that things would work out but, they 'should'.

Nice that the seller will take the other boy back too if thats the way you want to go.

Keep us updated please !

I would like the eggs but I’m not to worried either way! My original thought was to add more boys to the two I have and just have a flock of drakes. But I got mixed messages about how’d they’d be so I wasn’t sure in the end...

 

[SuffolkGirl]

Glad to hear Winston is doing better!

So let me get this straight, your friend is taking some of your other ducks, so it'll just be Winston and you're looking to buy/get him some friends, correct?

You *may* get away with keeping him with the other two drakes, but sometimes it doesn't work out, In my opinion, its a little risky. If I were you. I'd find four-ish female Heavyweight breeds for him first, then sell the other ducks. I don't think I'd keep him with Runner's, as he may be a little rough on them given his weight.

Hi sorry I wasn’t very clear about how many ducks I have lol.
So I have Winston and Boris. Just two drakes. No others. My friend who gave me the two is going to have Boris back as she has enough girls now for a boy. That will leave me with just Winston to add girls to.
My question was I suppose. Do I keep the two I have on their own? Do I add more boys to the two? Or do I spectate them as I was planning (possibly lol) and add girls to Winston?
sorry I’m not very good at explaining

 

[Hartsharvestfarms]

I am new to ducks so this is all based on research I have done and my experience with chickens. I definitely think having multiple drakes can be problematic, unless they are always kept far away from females (far enough that they can’t see/hear them). Add one lady into the mix and it will become a big problem and dangerous for everyone. They also tent to be more human aggressive when there is a female they are fighting over, in my experience with chickens. If it were me, I would keep one drake and give him some girls. Ideally somewhere around 7-9 is a good ratio of females for 1 drake. That may be more than you want, but male ducks can over breed the individual females if they do not have enough. You can also definitely start smaller, as with having both you will end up with eggs and ducklings at some point.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

I would like the eggs but I’m not to worried either way! My original thought was to add more boys to the two I have and just have a flock of drakes. But I got mixed messages about how’d they’d be so I wasn’t sure in the end...
[/QUOTE

I would happily get my OH to drive across europe to give you some drakes - we've got eight and we keep them seperate from the ladies. There has been some argy-bargy through mating season but other than that, they get on. Most of them have grown up together and I suspect that makes a difference,

So the options are:

- keep boris and winston - leave as is
- send boris off to a new life and get winston some ladies
- keep boris and winston and get even more ladies.

A lot I might add depends on the drake - like cockerels they can range from being polite and considerate to their ladies to being utter sods.

The choice is yours !

Our drakes are very handsome if you want some - just sayin'........

 

[SuffolkGirl]

I was thinking of getting four girls to Winston he’s quite shy but has a nice nature so I’m hoping he won’t be a thug I’ve grown up with chickens all my life and new to ducks they seem more complicated

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Then he'll probably make an excellent drake to whatever lucky ladies you get for him - I see breeding in your future !

 

[SuffolkGirl]

Then he'll probably make an excellent drake to whatever lucky ladies you get for him - I see breeding in your future !

God I don’t think I could handle baby ducks I don’t think my other half would be too happy either