Breeding Ducks?

[DuckyGirl4001]

Hello! I have three ducks (two girls, one boy) and they'll be old enough to breed in the spring, about a year old. Do you have any suggestions for breeding ducks? What should I expect when cross breeding? Will the male become aggressive? Do I need an incubator or can the chickens incubate the eggs for me? Thanks and sorry I have so many questions

.

PS here are my ducks:

(the dark one is the boy.)

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

I have never had an aggressive male, but I hear they can get real mean during that time. You have to watch for over breeding. Chickens can incubate the eggs.

 

[DuckyGirl4001]

Thanks DuckObsessed! If I bred only around 5 times, (so I could get 5 ducklings) would that be overbreeding as I only have 2 females?

 

[DUCKOBSESSED]

What i mean by over breeding is the male breeds with them so much he hurts them. Pulls out the feathers on their necks and hurts their legs. I don't think it is to common with one male two ducks but can happen. All you have to do is separate them if you notice the females are being hurt. Let them heal for awhile and put the male back in. It is more common with more males as they fight over the females.

 

[kim1999]

I have ducklings for the first time this year. I currently have 2 pekin ducks and 2 mallard drakes. We discovered both pekins nesting in our neighours yard. One had 13 ducklings, they are currently 3-4 weeks old. She has cared for them herself. We wanted to take them inside to protect them but we couldn't catch them all and they were frantic for the mom. We have lost 5 to predators. The other pekin is still sitting. Not sure what's up with that, just waiting and watching. They both started together, so we thought, but could be wrong. The drakes were fine as long as they had one female. When one had the ducklings and the other was sitting on the nest they became aggressive to the mom. hauling her by the neck to the point she was bleeding. Had to confine the drakes, normally all the ducks are free range.