Drake Dilemma

[arbitraryduckmom]

I had two bachelor drakes that got along great! I recently had one that was killed by hawks and have a lone drake. Working on fencing off part of the yard and adding a bird net on top as they free ranged during the day previously. But I'd like to just have two drakes again. I'm afraid that if I get ducklings, I'll end up with hens or the wrong ratios, and I really don't want that to happen. Is it possible to introduce two adult drakes to eachother and not have issues?

 

[picklestheduck]

I had two bachelor drakes that got along great! I recently had one that was killed by hawks and have a lone drake. Working on fencing off part of the yard and adding a bird net on top as they free ranged during the day previously. But I'd like to just have two drakes again. I'm afraid that if I get ducklings, I'll end up with hens or the wrong ratios, and I really don't want that to happen. Is it possible to introduce two adult drakes to eachother and not have issues?

Sorry for your loss. I personally have never dealt with bachelor drakes, but I believe it would be possible ti introduce adult males if you used the see/no touch method where you have them separated, like on different sides of a fence where they can eat side by side and see each other but can’t touch each other. Id say do that for idk maybe a week and then possibly start letting them out together but while monitoring. There’s likely to be a bit of a scuffle, (my drakes will flat out rip each others feathers out while yanking on each other, but they fight over females too) but I think they might be more calm since you wouldn’t have females. Again I’m no professional but I would think it’s possible. You could ask around locally if anyone had extra drakes, I feel like it’s common people are trying to get rid of them.

 

[arbitraryduckmom]

Sorry for your loss. I personally have never dealt with bachelor drakes, but I believe it would be possible ti introduce adult males if you used the see/no touch method where you have them separated, like on different sides of a fence where they can eat side by side and see each other but can’t touch each other. Id say do that for idk maybe a week and then possibly start letting them out together but while monitoring. There’s likely to be a bit of a scuffle, (my drakes will flat out rip each others feathers out while yanking on each other, but they fight over females too) but I think they might be more calm since you wouldn’t have females. Again I’m no professional but I would think it’s possible. You could ask around locally if anyone had extra drakes, I feel like it’s common people are trying to get rid of them.

Thank you for the reply! I haven't had ducks for long and I started out with just two drakes coincidentally and one just vanished one day, I got three ducklings and lost the drake and one of the younger ones to predators afterwards and ended up with my two lone drakes. My luck! That went well for a little over a year until this. Now I hope I can successfully intro another adult drake to my one and be good now that they won't be free ranging anymore and susceptible to predators.

 

[ruthhope]

I had two bachelor drakes that got along great! I recently had one that was killed by hawks and have a lone drake. Working on fencing off part of the yard and adding a bird net on top as they free ranged during the day previously. But I'd like to just have two drakes again. I'm afraid that if I get ducklings, I'll end up with hens or the wrong ratios, and I really don't want that to happen. Is it possible to introduce two adult drakes to eachother and not have issues?

Hi arbitraryduckmom

Welcome to BYC. So sorry to read that your drake was killed by a hawk. I always tell myself my drakes are too big to worry about hawks, but I worry about owls as we have huge barred owls and grt horned owls in NE Florida where I live.

It sounds like you are doing the right things to protect your remaining drake and his future companion

I am delighted that you want a drake companion!! I rescue, rehab, and rehome ducks and too often I am rescuing drakes that are dumped on retention ponds, or just at the side of the road. Because of drakes sexual appetites, backyard flocks have to include 4 or more female ducks per drake. But drake only flocks are fine. My own flock is 3 muscovy drakes and a special needs pekin drake. Three have been together since September 2021 when two of the muscovy were 6-8 weeks old and the special needs pekin was nearly 5 months old, but just recovered from a nasty raccoon attack that killed his clutch mate. The fourth, a young adult muscovy, Butter, joined the flock at the end of December 2022. He had been ostracized by his flock mates, who had begun favoring the other drake in the flock. His human parents weren't able to find him a home locally and so brought him 60 miles to me. I love him: my first all white muscovy.

Butter was see but no touch for a week. Then I started him on spending some day time with one of my muscovy before integrating him fully. I keep new arrivals sleeping in dog crates in the coop for longer than the see no touch period. I have had many other drakes during the years I have had an all drake flock and rehomed the last two in December, just before Butter arrived. It is very difficult to find new homes for drakes, not only because of drake to female ratios, but becuase many people don't want a drake that eats food but does not repay with eggs.

arbitraryduckmom where are you based? You might find a drake offered on your state thread on Backyard Chickens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-or-your-countrys-thread.270925/

In some states the local Humane Society and or the chapter of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals re home ducks. You might contact them , and even animal control, to see if they have any drakes needing adoption. Some wildlife rehabbers may have a drake they can let you have. Not all rehabber take domestic varieties of ducks and in Florida many rehabbers will not take muscovy. But try your local rehabbers.

Try social media -- NextDoor, Facebook market place, or craigs list. you should not have to pay much for a drake $5 perhaps but many will be free. You can advertise on social media if you don't see any being offered. In NE florida there is a NE Florida Farm and Garden group on Facebook. Its a private group but if you are in NE FLorida, find it and apply to join then you can advertise there.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had two bachelor drakes that got along great! I recently had one that was killed by hawks and have a lone drake. Working on fencing off part of the yard and adding a bird net on top as they free ranged during the day previously. But I'd like to just have two drakes again. I'm afraid that if I get ducklings, I'll end up with hens or the wrong ratios, and I really don't want that to happen. Is it possible to introduce two adult drakes to eachother and not have issues?

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[arbitraryduckmom]

Hi arbitraryduckmom

Welcome to BYC. So sorry to read that your drake was killed by a hawk. I always tell myself my drakes are too big to worry about hawks, but I worry about owls as we have huge barred owls and grt horned owls in NE Florida where I live.

It sounds like you are doing the right things to protect your remaining drake and his future companion

I am delighted that you want a drake companion!! I rescue, rehab, and rehome ducks and too often I am rescuing drakes that are dumped on retention ponds, or just at the side of the road. Because of drakes sexual appetites, backyard flocks have to include 4 or more female ducks per drake. But drake only flocks are fine. My own flock is 3 muscovy drakes and a special needs pekin drake. Three have been together since September 2021 when two of the muscovy were 6-8 weeks old and the special needs pekin was nearly 5 months old, but just recovered from a nasty raccoon attack that killed his clutch mate. The fourth, a young adult muscovy, Butter, joined the flock at the end of December 2022. He had been ostracized by his flock mates, who had begun favoring the other drake in the flock. His human parents weren't able to find him a home locally and so brought him 60 miles to me. I love him: my first all white muscovy.

Butter was see but no touch for a week. Then I started him on spending some day time with one of my muscovy before integrating him fully. I keep new arrivals sleeping in dog crates in the coop for longer than the see no touch period. I have had many other drakes during the years I have had an all drake flock and rehomed the last two in December, just before Butter arrived. It is very difficult to find new homes for drakes, not only because of drake to female ratios, but becuase many people don't want a drake that eats food but does not repay with eggs.

arbitraryduckmom where are you based? You might find a drake offered on your state thread on Backyard Chickens. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-or-your-countrys-thread.270925/

In some states the local Humane Society and or the chapter of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals re home ducks. You might contact them , and even animal control, to see if they have any drakes needing adoption. Some wildlife rehabbers may have a drake they can let you have. Not all rehabber take domestic varieties of ducks and in Florida many rehabbers will not take muscovy. But try your local rehabbers.

Try social media -- NextDoor, Facebook market place, or craigs list. you should not have to pay much for a drake $5 perhaps but many will be free. You can advertise on social media if you don't see any being offered. In NE florida there is a NE Florida Farm and Garden group on Facebook. Its a private group but if you are in NE FLorida, find it and apply to join then you can advertise there.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Thank you so much! This information is so helpful. I've never even considered a flock of drakes as I've only had pairs that grew up together. I'll definitely look into the resources you mentioned! I'm in north central OK!