Desperate for advice please.

[thumper650]

You shouldn't have to give anyone up. Worst case is you seperate ducks and chickens, and you may have to seperate the 2 drakes from each other in the Summer. My 2 drakes are seperated, unless supervised. It's not that hard to do.

 

[BYC910]

I would confirm the ducks are in fact drakes . If you don't want to give them up and you can only keep six total . I would stick with what I have . You just don't have room for the amount of females needed for two drakes . If you add a rooster you will have fertile eggs and if you slip up . You'll have chickens coming out of your ears . I think I would add two hen chickens to make my total of six birds . Separate the drakes to their own pen if they become a problem. But really the chickens should be able to escape them without to much trouble . Just keep enjoying your pets, you'll know what to do when the time comes .And

 

[cmom]

All of the posters have given you excellent advice so I can't add anything. Good luck and have fun...

 

[The Chicken Whisperer]

If you are novice chicken owners I would not get a rooster or keep one especially with young children. They can be aggressive.

I politely disagree with this statement, about roos being aggressive. True, they can hurt kids, but when hand raised and tamed with a loving hand, like mine, they can be the sweetest, gentlest, funniest members of your flock. Mine likes to perch on my shoulder and always lets me pick him up. While being gentle, they well protect the hens in their care.
I might be careful, though, about having 3 boys in your flock. The drakes and roo might not agree on every subject, and if their girls are inseparable, that might not be good.
Best of luck with your mixed flock!

 

[GreatGranny]

I politely disagree with this statement, about roos being aggressive. True, they can hurt kids, but when hand raised and tamed with a loving hand, like mine, they can be the sweetest, gentlest, funniest members of your flock. Mine likes to perch on my shoulder and always lets me pick him up. While being gentle, they well protect the hens in their care.
I might be careful, though, about having 3 boys in your flock. The drakes and roo might not agree on every subject, and if their girls are inseparable, that might not be good.
Best of luck with your mixed flock!

I agree, Chicken Whisperer! My Polish roo is very kind and sweet! He handles a flock of 24 hens, and with the madcap bunch of hens we have (love them all) that is no small feat!! And he is only 7 months old!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I politely disagree with this statement, about roos being aggressive. True, they can hurt kids, but when hand raised and tamed with a loving hand, like mine, they can be the sweetest, gentlest, funniest members of your flock. Mine likes to perch on my shoulder and always lets me pick him up. While being gentle, they well protect the hens in their care.
I might be careful, though, about having 3 boys in your flock. The drakes and roo might not agree on every subject, and if their girls are inseparable, that might not be good.
Best of luck with your mixed flock!

None of my roosters are aggressive either, but new owners often have problems and it's best to get familiar with hens before trying to keep a rooster. Sure lots of folks have had no problems, but why complicate things when the OP is looking to not complicate things.

 

[The Chicken Whisperer]

I agree, Chicken Whisperer! My Polish roo is very kind and sweet! He handles a flock of 24 hens, and with the madcap bunch of hens we have (love them all) that is no small feat!! And he is only 7 months old!

Go roo! Mine is older with a flock of 14, but we live near mountain lions, coyotes, hawks, and cattle dogs! I think roos are underrated and have a bad reputation for no good reason. Say hi to your sweet little guy for me!

 

[cmom]

All of my males are good, but I have had a couple of bad boys in the past.

 

[The Chicken Whisperer]

None of my roosters are aggressive either, but new owners often have problems and it's best to get familiar with hens before trying to keep a rooster. Sure lots of folks have had no problems, but why complicate things when the OP is looking to not complicate things.

Maybe, but roos are as simple to take care of as hens! I just think roos are a good safety precaution, in case of any attack. That's just my opinion, though!

 

[Cryss]

I don't think anyone is implying that the drakes would be mean. Rather that they would be amorous. That would probably be deadly. The reproductive organs of a chicken cannot accommodate the drastically different reproductive organs of a drake. I'd find some way of separating them physically but with ability to see each other. Maybe a similar set up to how new chickens are introduced to an existing flock could be devised. Side by side but separate areas with a common fence where they could have chat sessions so to speak. Just a thought.