Breeding ducks in a mixed flock.

[susan251]

Hi all. I have a small flock of Welsh Harlequin ducks, for eggs. I am thinking of adding some Pekin ducks this year for meat production. This year i will buy ducklings, but next year i would want to breed my own. Does anyone know if this would work in a mixed flock? Would the male Pekin attempt to mate with, and possibly harm, my Welsh girls? and if i just kept some Pekin females, would i get any cross breed ducklings from them next year? Can a Welsh Harlequin male even mate with a Pekin female? I am imagining some very amusing mating attempts.

thanks for any advice.

 

[Virus]

I'm sure they could manage, pekin male to WH female and vice-versa. If you don't want mixes you should separate the breeds.

 

[susan251]

Thanks. I'm more worried about aggression between breeds than mixed offspring. But i might separate them for a few weeks before hatching any eggs.

 

[Virus]

The breeds won't really matter concerning aggression, both pekin and WH are pretty calm, gentle breeds. It all depends on the duck's personality. There will be arguments and some fights but any group of animals or people do that. Unless there's carnage you don't need to worry.