Do I need a drake?

[Djgm]

I'm totally new to all this...and I ordered 3 ducklings to arrive on July 29. My question is this, today, somewhere I read that the females can get depressed without a mate? Is this accurate? I was hoping to have them for eggs, not to breed, so I didn't want to order a drake, but if it's needed for their health, I'm still far enough away from delivery I can order a bouncing (flapping?) baby boy as well... I don't know if it makes a difference, but I am getting a Buff , Cayuga, and a Pekin. Thanks so much guys!

 

[Soos-Quacken]

You’ll be more than fine without a drake. Believe me, drakes are often a heck of a lot of trouble

 

[Soos-Quacken]

This is, though, just from my own experience. My drakes are an absolute pack of delinquents and the females seem happier when their not around

 

[cheezenkwackers]

My drake is in drake jail from March until July when his hormones start to slow. I’m with Soos-Quacken, go without a drake, the girls will thank you.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Agreed. My drake is a butthole and I only have him to hatch eggs. Once I'm tired of hatching, it's off to freezer camp.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

I have a flock of hens and they are fine without a drake. Ducks get unhappy by themselves, they just need friends, but not a mate.

 

[Djgm]

Great! Thank you guys! So no boys allowed it is 3 is a good number, or should I have ordered more? Since I'm just starting out, I didn't want to go with too many. I was thinking maybe next Spring I may do 3 more, if everything went well.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

Great! Thank you guys! So no boys allowed it is 3 is a good number, or should I have ordered more? Since I'm just starting out, I didn't want to go with too many. I was thinking maybe next Spring I may do 3 more, if everything went well.

I have 3 hens, and it is the perfect number to start with, not too many to keep clean, and even if one passes away, the other two will have each other.

My flock is hen-only. Occasionally, I nearly convince myself to get a drake, usually early in the mating season when the girls seem desperate for love. However, I always decide to keep things as they are.

I do want to give you a heads up that your hens will absolutely have an active sex life with each other if there is no drake around, but it’s nothing to be concerned about as long as everyone seems happy!

 

[Djgm]

Oh my! Thanks for the heads up, I would have been worried it wasn't normal if I saw that lmao

 

[Boccom]

to be honest keeping a rooster would be better than a drake since theyre not as rough when mounting but still have the same problems but at a lesser level except the rooster would probably want chickens too