any disadvantage to flock being drake free?

[freeworld4all]

I have 7 hens, 4 adolescent and 8 baby Runners and have a real problem with the way my 2 drakes treat the young ones. I currently have the "baby killer" sequestered for slaughter later today, but I don't like the way the other "second in command" drake is treating the adolescents and he hasn't even seen the babies yet. Since I already have so many duckling and don't want anymore, do I really need the drakes at all?

 

[larkflying]

The only reason I keep drakes is so I can hatch out replacements every year. If that isn't something that you care about, then I'd go ahead and go drake free. I think I heard that the hens will also lay better without the drakes around. I think I have around 12 girls to 2 boys right now in hopes that that will help them get along with the girls okay . . . . they are still immature so the grown up females are chasing them around for a change.

 

[freeworld4all]

Thanks for input. I feel so bad about killing the boys but self-reliance is a lot of why I am raising them. Is there no problems with interbreeding ducks? If not, I can always raise up a drake out of the babies I have when I'm ready to restock. What about always keeping 2 boys sequestered away from the flock? That way they wouldn't be alone and you'd have them when you needed them. Probably cruel and a bad idea for other reasons but I might as well ask....

 

[Amiga]

I don't think having a drake pen is cruel as long as you have at least two. I know of a few people who do this, one person said fifty feet away from the girls helps keep the testosterone levels down in the spring.

 

[aberle77]

please dont kill the drake i will take it

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Running a man cave is fine, as is culling the offender if you choose to do so. No need to keep and or allow aggresive birds to reproduce. However ducks do need time to be able to work out flock dinamics. Young birds should never be turned out with adults until they are plenty big enough to move away, and defend themselves. Besides duck makes a good dinner.

 

[freeworld4all]

Thanks for the information. I will definitely try out the 50 feet rule when I decide to have drakes again. I'm looking to move to a much bigger place in the next year so that would really out well. Just the info I needed!