Do you recommend getting male and female pair?

[MichalK]

I want Rouen ducks, what should I start with? I have 2 African geese and chickens (separately). Coops can be built, we have 5 acres of open flat grass. Thanks!

 

[needlessjunk]

I would not get a male unless you are planning on breeding and have lots of females. Males can be a danger to ducks if they don't have enough girls to keep them happy and 1:1 is not a good ratio. You should be thinking about 3:1 at the bare minimum and 5:1 is better for your girls.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I want Rouen ducks, what should I start with? I have 2 African geese and chickens (separately). Coops can be built, we have 5 acres of open flat grass. Thanks!

I'm having a pretty rare disagreement with @needlessjunk . I'm fine with a 1-1 as long as it's only the 1-1. Those can bond like teenagers, and I have a pair of those myself. If you were to do a 1-1 ratio as in 3 ducks and 3 drakes, that's begging for trouble. That might have been what NJ meant.

 

[needlessjunk]

I'm having a pretty rare disagreement with @needlessjunk
. I'm fine with a 1-1 as long as it's only the 1-1. Those can bond like teenagers, and I have a pair of those myself. If you were to do a 1-1 ratio as in 3 ducks and 3 drakes, that's begging for trouble. That might have been what NJ meant.

Guess I can't always be right for my flock 5:1 did not work out at all and he over mated 2 girls and had to be rehomed. So I can only speak of what didn't work for my flock. I never had a pair that started as ducklings though.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Guess I can't always be right

for my flock 5:1 did not work out at all and he over mated 2 girls and had to be rehomed. So I can only speak of what didn't work for my flock. I never had a pair that started as ducklings though.

You're not wrong at all. If they're a 1-1, I guess it's just that they're all they have. If you go beyond that with drakes to ducks and you have more drakes, yep, definite bad news for your ducks. (What I mean by that is 1 drake, one duck, no others.)

 

[MichalK]

I would not get a male unless you are planning on breeding and have lots of females. Males can be a danger to ducks if they don't have enough girls to keep them happy and 1:1 is not a good ratio. You should be thinking about 3:1 at the bare minimum and 5:1 is better for your girls.

You're not wrong at all. If they're a 1-1, I guess it's just that they're all they have. If you go beyond that with drakes to ducks and you have more drakes, yep, definite bad news for your ducks. (What I mean by that is 1 drake, one duck, no others.)

Thanks ! I would love a drake gouen for it's beauty.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Thanks ! I would love a drake gouen for it's beauty.

Too bad you're so far away. I have Rouens I'm giving away.

 

[MichalK]

Too bad you're so far away. I have Rouens I'm giving away.

Awww!