An Extra Duckling from Metzer Farms

[newbabyducks322]

I ordered two ducklings and when they arrived I got three! Not a bad surprise at all. But the two ducklings I ordered had bands on to let me know that they were females and the third had nothing on. Does that mean the third duckling is a boy? I can't keep a boy so if they sent me a third male duckling that would be really disappointing. I tried to vent check the duckling, but I don't know if I was doing it correctly. If I was doing it correctly, it would be a female; which would be great. Would they send me a male duck even though my order was only females? I've taken off the bands and now I regret doing so because I can't remember which one had no band and which ones did.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

It was probably sent so they stay warm. Hatcheries often send extra males as 'packing peanuts', so I wouldn't be surprised if you have one. You'll just have to see! Why can't you keep a drake?

 

[Poultry parent]

Why aren't ou allowed to keep a drake?

 

[newbabyducks322]

It was probably sent so they stay warm. Hatcheries often send extra males as 'packing peanuts', so I wouldn't be surprised if you have one. You'll just have to see! Why can't you keep a drake?

I only have female ducks, I don't have the room for ducklings when/if they get older and decide to mate.

 

[Poultry parent]

Drakes will mate. They aren't loud though. They don't take up more space than a female.

 

[newbabyducks322]

Drakes will mate. They aren't loud though. They don't take up more space than a female.

I know, but I don't want them to mate. :/

 

[Poultry parent]

Why? It's natural

If you have a good female to male ratio you won't have any problems

 

[Debs Flock]

You can always just remove eggs before they start sitting on them. You wouldn't end up with more ducklings that way.

 

[newbabyducks322]

Why? It's natural

If you have a good female to male ratio you won't have any problems

Because where I live there are limits to how much poultry is allowed to be kept on someone's property (I'm in a neighborhood) and also my family likes to eat the eggs. It just makes things very difficult.

 

[Poultry parent]

Then if it's a boy just give him away.