adding to the flock

[FrenchHen]

I have 4 Khaki Campbells, 2 drakes and 2 ducks. Someone offered me a male runner. I'm assuming that's not a good idea.

Prove me wrong?

 

[Willowbrook]

Is your concern that it is a Runner or a drake?

 

[FrenchHen]

that I'll have three drakes to two hens.
Are drakes territorial like roosters?
One of my drakes is already a bit confused...he keeps courting the other drake.

 

[Willowbrook]

Duck personalities differ between individual birds and not all drakes are dominant or pushy. The ultimate decision would be based on what you already have and how they react to each other.
If your ducks are only confined at night and have access to being free ranged during the day, I would think the problem, should there be one, would be minimal. If they are constantly penned in a small area, territory might play into problems developing.
Most would probably say that already having two drakes might pose a problem with just having two ducks, but you don't indicate that to be the case.

 

[LittleSquidgenHome]

I would be more concerned about the hens being outnumbered. They can only be mounted so much before the possibility of injury occurs. I haven't had any issues with territorial squabbles with my drakes, not to say they don't occur, but I have had hens injured because they were outnumbered buy the drakes and overzealously mated. Pretty typically it is suggested that the hens out number the drakes 2 to 1, not the other way around. In your situation I would take the runner drake AND get 2 or 3 more girls. But that is me, I am duck crazy over here. Good luck!

 

[rainplace]

Quote:

 

[FrenchHen]

Husband said no.

Since we're getting runners in the Spring as hatchlings, I'll just wait until then. We started out with three and three. One went in the freezer, and one didn't survive the terrible freeze we had before El Nino decided to keep our winter moderate. Now we have two and two. Since I don't much care for eating duck...I guess we'll wait.