Do Drakes Mellow Out Duck Hens?

[CayugaMama]

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.

That's good to hear! So maybe a small drake could wrangle his amazon women!

 

[KaleIAm]

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.

I very much agree with increasing your females if you get a drake. The 3 girls I adopted were over mated and even 5.5 years later one has health problems requiring surgery under anesthesia yearly to save her life. She is a 7lb Pekin and mated by little mallards. My ducks had been abandoned on a pond, and there were many mallards - but I have read plenty of tragic stories on here where a single drake killed their partner.

It may be fine, but the new drake could severely hurt or kill your girls and no one can predict what will happen. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

 

[CayugaMama]

I very much agree with increasing your females if you get a drake. The 3 girls I adopted were over mated and even 5.5 years later one has health problems requiring surgery under anesthesia yearly to save her life. She is a 7lb Pekin and mated by little mallards. My ducks had been abandoned on a pond, and there were many mallards - but I have read plenty of tragic stories on here where a single drake killed their partner.

It may be fine, but the new drake could severely hurt or kill your girls and no one can predict what will happen. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

Well that is scary, thank you! Makes you wonder what the wild ducks do to handle their ratios!

 

[KaleIAm]

Well that is scary, thank you! Makes you wonder what the wild ducks do to handle their ratios!

While not being an expert on wild ducks I speculate that there are 2 main reasons.

1. Wild female ducks can fly away.
2. While breeding domestic female ducks to have year around increased egg production breeders have also increased the mating drive of drakes.

This doesn't mean that wild drakes don't overmate wild females, mostly in the spring as I understand. While I haven't seen it I've heard of drowning incidents more than once.

I'm a little passionate about overmating because my sweethearts were hurt so badly. I was so sure they would recover and never imagined they would still suffer so many years later.

 

[CayugaMama]

While not being an expert on wild ducks I speculate that there are 2 main reasons.

1. Wild female ducks can fly away.
2. While breeding domestic female ducks to have year around increased egg production breeders have also increased the mating drive of drakes.

This doesn't mean that wild drakes don't overmate wild females, mostly in the spring as I understand. While I haven't seen it I've heard of drowning incidents more than once.

I'm a little passionate about overmating because my sweethearts were hurt so badly. I was so sure they would recover and never imagined they would still suffer so many years later.

All great points! Glad to hear your girls have someone like you!

 

[KaleIAm]

All great points! Glad to hear your girls have someone like you!

Thank you!