Are these Pekin Drakes?

[Crazy Maizie]

That makes complete sense. Thanks.

But @Jenny421 has a better chance of making it work then, yes? I'd hate for her to go through rehoming if it's possible she could keep everyone AND get more ducks!

Only if she separates the drakes or gets more duck hens. My ratio is off and I separate, but my muscovy are a bit more aggressive it seems as they like to pull feathers. My females and males - probably a learned trait since my dominant female is a feather puller. But, she pulls everyone's feathers except my main drake. So, most of the time chickens and ducks are separate. Just recently the muscovy decided to continually harass one of my runners. I even separated the dominant hen - my less dominant hen took over the bullying. So, now the runners (duck hens) are in with the chickens.
Really there's a sort of never ending adjustment with birds. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don't. Sometimes it works for a short while and the wind blows just right and it blows in a new game.
In my situation it probably has more to do with all the birds are penned up where the muscovy used to free range all day. But, along came a fox and that changed their situation. They have plenty of room and eat appropriate feed. So, it's something I have to deal with for now.
I was just able to pick up a 8x4 pen on sale at rural king that I'm going to set up and let one group of ducks at a time have access to the yard while still being safe. At least they will be able to be out in the yard when the weather allows. Its light enough that I think I can move it to different areas around the yard so it doesn't deplete the grass in one area. Again, this is one adjustment I've decided to implement to make my ducks a bit happier. The chickens might be able to take advantage too, but for now I'm going to focus on the ducks.

 

[Jenny421]

I wouldn't chance it unless you know the drake because a lot are also rehomed due to aggressiveness. There are drakes that no matter what ratio they have, they are still aggressive.

At what age do we start to see aggressive behavior? The chickens are about 7 months old and the ducks 4 months. We’ve raised them all. The ducks have their own sleeping area, but they kind of hang out with the chickens from time to time. Most of the time they are doing their own thing. I’d say that the chickens rule the roost and the ducks will move out of the way and let the chickens eat first - even if the ducks were already eating. We have food for the chickens in their run, but we stopped putting food and water in for the ducks because they made such a mess. They get fed outside their run once they get up in the morning.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

At what age do we start to see aggressive behavior? The chickens are about 7 months old and the ducks 4 months. We’ve raised them all. The ducks have their own sleeping area, but they kind of hang out with the chickens from time to time. Most of the time they are doing their own thing. I’d say that the chickens rule the roost and the ducks will move out of the way and let the chickens eat first - even if the ducks were already eating. We have food for the chickens in their run, but we stopped putting food and water in for the ducks because they made such a mess. They get fed outside their run once they get up in the morning.

Any age really. Hormones play a big part.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What do you mean by aggressive behavior? towards mating with female ducks or with the chickens?

 

[Jenny421]

What do you mean by aggressive behavior? towards mating with female ducks or with the chickens?

Either.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well sometimes what we see as aggression in ducks mating is actually normal. Duck sex is rough. But if we start to see a lot of feathers missing from their necks down to bare skin with possibility of open wound then a duck is getting over mated. Some feather loss is normal because the drake has to hold onto the feathers to be able to stay on the female. Also sometimes the female can have feather loss around her eyes from the drake grabbing hold there. All these things can be curtailed by giving the drakes time out from the females. Some members give their drake time out the whole breeding season these things you’ll have to decide when observing your own flock. Now with the chicken hens if you have plenty of females your drakes may not even look at them as breeding partner. That again depends on the drake. But these things can again be curtailed by separating. I usually have 3 areas going in spring and summer. Mainly to keep my gander and Muscovy drake from fighting and my Runner drake from chasing the Muscovy females( they are 9-10 yrs be old) and don’t need this. I have a 14 yr old female Muscovy that doesn’t get bothered at all. So until your boys start showing interest in your female best thing to do is just watch what is going on and be ready if you see them going after your hens or ganging up on your female duck. I have had many drakes since starting with ducks in 2004 and have never had a drake go after any of my hens for sex. And I am not bragging that my drakes are perfect by no means but I think keeping them supplied with a good amount of female ducks sure helps keep them busy with their own species. I love my drakes and feel they are a good asset to my flock. I know not everyone feels this way though.

 

[Jenny421]

Well sometimes what we see as aggression in ducks mating is actually normal. Duck sex is rough. But if we start to see a lot of feathers missing from their necks down to bare skin with possibility of open wound then a duck is getting over mated. Some feather loss is normal because the drake has to hold onto the feathers to be able to stay on the female. Also sometimes the female can have feather loss around her eyes from the drake grabbing hold there. All these things can be curtailed by giving the drakes time out from the females. Some members give their drake time out the whole breeding season these things you’ll have to decide when observing your own flock. Now with the chicken hens if you have plenty of females your drakes may not even look at them as breeding partner. That again depends on the drake. But these things can again be curtailed by separating. I usually have 3 areas going in spring and summer. Mainly to keep my gander and Muscovy drake from fighting and my Runner drake from chasing the Muscovy females( they are 9-10 yrs be old) and don’t need this. I have a 14 yr old female Muscovy that doesn’t get bothered at all. So until your boys start showing interest in your female best thing to do is just watch what is going on and be ready if you see them going after your hens or ganging up on your female duck. I have had many drakes since starting with ducks in 2004 and have never had a drake go after any of my hens for sex. And I am not bragging that my drakes are perfect by no means but I think keeping them supplied with a good amount of female ducks sure helps keep them busy with their own species. I love my drakes and feel they are a good asset to my flock. I know not everyone feels this way though.

Thank you! This is very helpful info!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sometimes we start to worry and for get to enjoy.

 

[Jenny421]

Sometimes we start to worry and for get to enjoy.

That’s the truth.