Breeding ducks.

[QueenDuck]

I have two Ayelsbury ducks and I want to get a different breed for my new incubator. I was thinking about Miniature Silver Appleyards but they may mate and then when or if they hatch they will be crossed. Now if i decide that I want to sell my ducks or eggs I don't think a cross breed between Ayelsbury and Miniature Silver Apleyards would be very popular. Eventually, In want to start breeding Mandarins when I make enough money from the ducks. I know that the Mandarins can't breed with other breeds of ducks so that will be fine. I just need to get enough money together. I could put them in different runs but I don't want to use up loads of my nans land. Even if i did put them in different runs, I would like them to be let out every day but as I don't live there I think it would be unfair on my nan having to let them both out at different times.
Is there anything I can do to make sure the two different breeds mix and produce a mix?
Thanks!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Mandarins will have to housed in a fully enclosed flight pen/aviary or they will fly away.

All other ducks should be free ranged seperately and housed seperately to keep them from cross breeding.

 

[Kevin565]

Are your referring to Mandarins or Domestic Ducks? Trust me if you have Drakes of one another breed they will defiantly breed your ducks.

 

[QueenDuck]

Yes, mandarins seem to cost quite a bit of money.I just went out and bought a pond today for my ducks. It's not very big, just about 1 meter by 1.9 meters. I don't really have the time to let them all out separately as I don't live there. if I didn't let them out how big would their run need to be? If this couldn't work in anyway then I would have to try and work something out. If I did eventually get the mandarins then I would DEFIANTLY keep them inside an aviary.

 

[hfchristy]

They don't need to be separated all the time, right? Only when you're going to be hatching them, and a few weeks beforehand.
If you only sell one breed (or one at a time) then you could have that breed in a big run, or even just those birds that you are actively breeding, and let the rest out together.

 

[spiderlady]

I agree, they don't need to be separate all the time. I only have one breed, but like to choose the best ones to breed for hatching. SO, I set up a breeding pen in the spring. I recently started a thread asking how long they would have to be separate and the answer given me was about 3 weeks. I have since then come across that info somewhere else too, I think in a book but not sure. SO, that is what I did, just three weeks with the ducks that you want to hatch eggs from grouped appropriately, then however long it takes you to collect enough hatching eggs after that of course. I have eggs hatching in a few weeks, so I guess I will find out if it worked or not! Good Luck!

 

[QueenDuck]

Hmm, yes i don't think they will need to be separate all the time. But for now I think I just stick with Ayelsburys. I just bought some eggs yesterday and waiting for them to come through the post. But if i do decide to get all different breeds then i will certainly take all of the ideas into account

 

[QueenDuck]

Just had a thought! If I did eventually get different breed wouldn't the ones in the run get jealous? If the other ones were wondering about the farm and the ones i wanted to breed with were stuck in a run all the time. I'm quite new to ducks so i don't really know! :S

 

[spiderlady]

Haha, probably, but it wouldn't be for long! You could also let them out at different times, but if it's too much hassle, then I wouldn't worry about it. They will survive and then play happily with the others after they are done in the breeding run =)

 

[hfchristy]

You could still let the guys out. Depending on how zealous they've been, the ladies may be thankful to be "stuck" in the run by themselves for a while!