Hello!
I adopted a trio of 7-week-old ducklings a few weeks back from an acquaintance's grandson after the family didn't want them/lost interest in them (impulse buy for Easter.) All I know is two of them are Cayuga and one is a Pekin. I've had suspicions about one of the cayuga ducks being a drake, since it hasn't developed the loud "quack" of the females. The others have this quack, but not this one. I've had a drake before, and it was a disaster.
Before these ducks, I had 3 Pekins and 3 Buff. One of the Pekins was a drake and once they grew to maturity, beat the tar out of all the other females. It was bad; plucked and bloodied necks, grabbing and force-mating, and eventually killing one of my Buff girls from overmating (disjointed hipbone, broken leg, exc.) He brought so much pain and suffering that I sent him away to a farm with only 1 other drake as company, and they do get along. I've seen the destruction of this Pekin male, and maybe it was more serious because of his larger size.
Many people have told me my situation is uncommon, but it was a ratio of 1 drake to 5 females. If this Cayuga was a male, it would be the 1:5 again. He's also being raised alongside chicken hens and rabbits, if that means anything. Would he abuse them?
Also while we're talking about ducks, I believe one of the young Cayugas has angelwing. I've heard about wrapping her wing, but is there a certain way to help it grow in place right? Anything I could assemble at home? Thanks!
I adopted a trio of 7-week-old ducklings a few weeks back from an acquaintance's grandson after the family didn't want them/lost interest in them (impulse buy for Easter.) All I know is two of them are Cayuga and one is a Pekin. I've had suspicions about one of the cayuga ducks being a drake, since it hasn't developed the loud "quack" of the females. The others have this quack, but not this one. I've had a drake before, and it was a disaster.
Before these ducks, I had 3 Pekins and 3 Buff. One of the Pekins was a drake and once they grew to maturity, beat the tar out of all the other females. It was bad; plucked and bloodied necks, grabbing and force-mating, and eventually killing one of my Buff girls from overmating (disjointed hipbone, broken leg, exc.) He brought so much pain and suffering that I sent him away to a farm with only 1 other drake as company, and they do get along. I've seen the destruction of this Pekin male, and maybe it was more serious because of his larger size.
Many people have told me my situation is uncommon, but it was a ratio of 1 drake to 5 females. If this Cayuga was a male, it would be the 1:5 again. He's also being raised alongside chicken hens and rabbits, if that means anything. Would he abuse them?
Also while we're talking about ducks, I believe one of the young Cayugas has angelwing. I've heard about wrapping her wing, but is there a certain way to help it grow in place right? Anything I could assemble at home? Thanks!
