Breeding

[Chickenmarsala]

Hi everyone! I currently have one drake at home who is a half mallard half runner duck. He seems like he's starting to get a little lonely and as the seasons are starting to change he keeps trying to mate with my chickens. (Poor confused little guy) So I've decided I want to get him a girlfriend to keep him company and have some eggs! Does anyone know if him being a mixed breed will affect his ability to fertilize the eggs? Or does it not matter? Thanks!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Unless he's a muscovy cross, no, being a mix will not affect his ability to fertilise eggs.

In the meantime, I suggest you get him out of the chicken pen ASAP. Chickens do not have penises. Ducks have monster penises. Chickens are not meant to take that and can get internal injuries from a duck mating with them.

 

[Chickenmarsala]

Unless he's a muscovy cross, no, being a mix will not affect his ability to fertilise eggs.

In the meantime, I suggest you get him out of the chicken pen ASAP. Chickens do not have penises. Ducks have monster penises. Chickens are not meant to take that and can get internal injuries from a duck mating with them.

I have them in different pens, but I let them free range in the yard during the afternoon. Up until now I had let them free range together. Should I let them out separately now? And will he calm down after this season is over or do I need to let them out separately from here on out?

 

[Miss Lydia]

If your drake is wanting to mate with your chicken hens yes let them out separately and get that boy some girl friends. I would rec at least 3 to 1 drake.

 

[chickens really]

Drakes can kill Chickens because they have a penis and Roosters don't .Separate him from the Chickens and get him two females Ducks..Yes he can fertilize Ducks..

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Your drake can fertilize eggs but the hatch rate can be a little lower than if he weren't a hybrid (according to Storey's guide to raising ducks). I have a pure Khaki drake and a 1/2 Khaki, 1/2 Appleyard drake (all my girls are Khakis). When I have done eggtopseys after some eggs in a batch did not hatch, I find that most of the dead babies have facial stripes so they are the offspring of my hybrid.

 

[Chickenmarsala]

Could I get just one female? What are the benefits to getting more than one?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Benefits are keeping your 1 female duck from being over mated. Having 2 or more females gives the drake more females to mate and keeps any one from being over mated and injured, Drakes are very rough.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Miss Lydia is wise! I started with two ducklings which turned out to be a male and female. The sweet male duckling turned into a hormone deranged teenage duck. I also read on this sight that if you have a pair of ducks and one dies, the other will be miserable. So, I acquired 7 fertile eggs thinking I would hatch them, keep one female, and re-home the rest. Only three hatched and I discovered adding new ducks is tough. I kept all three and now have five ducks. I wish I had had Miss Lydia’s advice before I started.