Do Drakes Mellow Out Duck Hens?

[CayugaMama]

My hen is the same- though currently shes mad at me and ingoring me since I was gone for a week. I got her a drake a few weeks ago and its soo much better. She only really screams now if she wants to be pet or treats. So, in my opinion and experience, yes the drake does mellow them out. Sometimes she runs around chasing the drake and yelling at him if he doesn't give her enough attention

Ok! I like to hear that... so now we're at 1 to 1... I need a tie breaker to help determine if I should go for it!

 

[HappyDuckie]

Ok! I like to hear that... so now we're at 1 to 1... I need a tie breaker to help determine if I should go for it!

Also- how many ducks do you have?

 

[CayugaMama]

Also- how many ducks do you have?

I have 2!

 

[HappyDuckie]

I have 2!

You may want to get some more if you plan on getting a drake. 3-5 is a good number of hens per drake. He could overmate and harm your hens, sadly. How old are they?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

even if he doesn’t mellow out your hens, you can still get a drake! i recommend adopting from a rescue rather than supporting breeders

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I got them at 2 days old, they are now 5 months old, and I typically let them quack it out! I only tend to their quacks in the morning when they let me know they are awake and ready to be let out! haha

That's a tough one then because they very well may have imprinted. I will say I have had success integrating imprinted ducks into a larger flock and now the only time they get loud is when they hear/see me in the mornings and evenings to let them out/in. My entire flock (including ones that were older when dropped off) now all come running over to me anytime I'm outside with the prior imprinted ducks leading the flock, but no one is abnormally noisy when I leave anymore. I think it is one of those things where it really depends on the duck and there is no garruntee either way. If you're considering adding a drake I would also consider adding at another two hen's at least.

 

[CayugaMama]

You may want to get some more if you plan on getting a drake. 3-5 is a good number of hens per drake. He could overmate and harm your hens, sadly. How old are they?

They are 5 months old! There is a Black East Indie (bantam) I am looking at adopting! I wonder if a smaller duck would work for a smaller ratio...

 

[CayugaMama]

even if he doesn’t mellow out your hens, you can still get a drake! i recommend adopting from a rescue rather than supporting breeders

Yes! There is a little Black East Indie drake I am looking into adopting! He will be a cute little guy to match my Cayugas

 

[CayugaMama]

That's a tough one then because they very well may have imprinted. I will say I have had success integrating imprinted ducks into a larger flock and now the only time they get loud is when they hear/see me in the mornings and evenings to let them out/in. My entire flock (including ones that were older when dropped off) now all come running over to me anytime I'm outside with the prior imprinted ducks leading the flock, but no one is abnormally noisy when I leave anymore. I think it is one of those things where it really depends on the duck and there is no garruntee either way. If you're considering adding a drake I would also consider adding at another two hen's at least.

That's a good point.. I guess I will just have to go for it and see how it all plays out! If I were to get a BEI (bantam) drake, I wonder if it would change that mating ratio at all?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

That's a good point.. I guess I will just have to go for it and see how it all plays out! If I were to get a BEI (bantam) drake, I wonder if it would change that mating ratio at all?

yes bantam do not need as many girls as normal ducks. calls and indies could probably be perfectly fine with just two, i’ve even seen them do good in 2:2 ratios.