Ancona eye crusted shut

[Miss Lydia]

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[valmont]

So, I have a new dilemma:
I lost another Runner to a hawk yesterday so now my male to female ratio has me concerned. BTW, Flo's eye is much better, thank you. I started with 3 Ancona and 7 Runners, I drake of each, Now I'm left with both drakes and Flo the Ancona and 3 runner females. 2 to 4, I think the males will abuse the girls like they did my Chloe, whom I lost because of it. I see I have 3 options:

 

[valmont]

Get rid of a male
Get rid of all of them
Get more females

I am very confused on what would be best. I love the little buggers, but hate losing them or knowing the ratio is going to be a nightmare yet to happen.

The pen is now secured on all 4 sides, no ore hawk threat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So you have 2 drakes right an 4 females it would be best to get a couple more females so it’s at lest 3 females per drake 4 each would be better. If you don’t want to give up your drakes. Very sorry for your loss. My 2 Runner drakes have 9 females total.

 

[valmont]

Greetings again my water fowl loving friends, Happy New Year to all. So now that the dust has settled and I have time to really ponder my next move I again seek your sage advice. Quick short story, lost first female Ancona to over aggressive males, lost 3 female Runners to the threat from above (hawk), I'm left with 1 male Ancona, 1 male Runner, 1 female Ancona and 3 female runners. They all get along well, the runner drake seems to be the alpha. I was first concerned about the sex ration, especially seeing what happened to my Chloe (1st Ancona), but now I'm or concerned about buying more females, raising them and then introducing them to the existing flock. I'm almost thinking it's best left alone. The 4 females are producing eggs daily, everyone seems happy, I'm confused. I cannot handle 2 separate pens, already spending a great deal of time keeping the kids happy as it is.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That’s a lot of testosterone for 4 female, but you know your birds,if the boys begin to over use the females then You maybe forced to make a decision. Hope it works out for you.