Drake living with bantam chickens?

[Gilderoy Peckhard]

Hey y'all, I need some advice. I have 3 duck hens and 1 drake living in a bantam chicken flock (silkies, cochins, etc.)
I watched a YT video recently from a channel that I respect, and the lady on there said that she has a very small drake that doesn't mess with her big chicken hens. He stays with the duck hens. Would the reverse be the same? I have a big drake (and duck hens) and little chicken hens.
Do I have to get rid of the drake? Everyone in the flock is just starting to mature, so now is the time for me to decide. I really don't want to get rid of Drako Fowlfoy, but I will if that's what's best for my bantam chicken hens.
PS. Almost 100% certain he's a drake. He has a whispery quack, and his tail feathers are just starting to curl a little.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's best not to house chickens with ducks because of all the wetness and water, and these breeds especially. Seeing all yours together they were probably raised together? The drake will probably try to mate the chickens, or at least interact with them in a negative way.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Do I have to get rid of the drake?

No : IF you keep duck hens for him, you don't have to get rid of your drake.

What you need, instead, is to be prepared by :
• using different shelters for your ducks and your chickens;
• having a mean to separate your ducks from your chickens during mating season.

⚠ During mating season, a drake's hormones can be out of control... especially a young drake's!
So, during this period, it is always better to keep him separated from your chickens in case he wants to use them to satisfy his libido.

► A rooster, contrary to a drake, doesn't have a penis.
Thus, a chicken hen's body is not made to be mated with a penis.

Meaning that : if a drake mates with a chicken, he can severely hurt her - and even actually kill her, very painfully and bloodily.

You don't want that, so you have to monitor them carefully, and separate them as soon as your drake decides he want to rape your chickens.

(But for the time being, at least until the next mating season, you don't have to worry about it.)

▬ Personally, I have A LOT of ducks and chickens... AND they freerange together all year round... apart during mating season!

► During the nights (all year round), my ducks and my chickens sleep in different coops and runs.
Thus : I don't have to manage humidity caused by ducks, and so, take any risk for my chickens' health...

(Ducks like their habits, so they are really easy to train to go into THEIR own pen!)

► During mating season, I separate my ducks from my chickens, so to be sure that none of my drakes decides they want to try making babies with chickens...

► Out of mating season, my ducks and my chickens freerange together; and it cause no issue!
(And I own A LOT of drakes!!)

▬ It works, and everyone is happy.

...Good luck with your birds!

 

[Gilderoy Peckhard]

Hi.



No : IF you keep duck hens for him, you don't have to get rid of your drake.

What you need, instead, is to be prepared by :
• using different shelters for your ducks and your chickens;
• having a mean to separate your ducks from your chickens during mating season.

⚠ During mating season, a drake's hormones can be out of control... especially a young drake's!
So, during this period, it is always better to keep him separated from your chickens in case he wants to use them to satisfy his libido.

► A rooster, contrary to a drake, doesn't have a penis.
Thus, a chicken hen's body is not made to be mated with a penis.

Meaning that : if a drake mates with a chicken, he can severely hurt her - and even actually kill her, very painfully and bloodily.

You don't want that, so you have to monitor them carefully, and separate them as soon as your drake decides he want to rape your chickens.

(But for the time being, at least until the next mating season, you don't have to worry about it.)

▬ Personally, I have A LOT of ducks and chickens... AND they freerange together all year round... apart during mating season!

► During the nights (all year round), my ducks and my chickens sleep in different coops and runs.
Thus : I don't have to manage humidity caused by ducks, and so, take any risk for my chickens' health...

(Ducks like their habits, so they are really easy to train to go into THEIR own pen!)

► During mating season, I separate my ducks from my chickens, so to be sure that none of my drakes decides they want to try making babies with chickens...

► Out of mating season, my ducks and my chickens freerange together; and it cause no issue!
(And I own A LOT of drakes!!)

▬ It works, and everyone is happy.

...Good luck with your birds!

Thank you! That seems to be the best answer to my dilemma, they have been raised together and sleep together no problems (my ducks are cleaner bc they have a big pen to roam), but I think you're right about mating season separation.

 

[Gilderoy Peckhard]

It's best not to house chickens with ducks because of all the wetness and water, and these breeds especially. Seeing all yours together they were probably raised together? The drake will probably try to mate the chickens, or at least interact with them in a negative way.

Thanks for the reply! I have heard that advice, but it seems to be working out for me so far. Maybe that'll change when the ducks get bigger?

 

[Gilderoy Peckhard]

If I separate him in a small coop, should he be by himself? The coop can fit two, so I could include his girlfriend, but 1:1 ratio might be taxing for the hen, what do y'all think?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would not do a 1:1 ratio. Frames can mate a lot and cause damage to the hens neck.

 

[Papaye]

Hi!

If I separate him in a small coop, should he be by himself? The coop can fit two, so I could include his girlfriend, but 1:1 ratio might be taxing for the hen, what do y'all think?

Until next mating season, you don't have to worry about your ratio.

In fact, if you don't take another drake, then even during mating season, you should not have to worry about it...

In my experience, a 1-1 ratio works fine when drakes have no competition.
Meaning that : if you have only one drake, or even two drakes that are bonded, they probably won't overmate the girls...

"Probably", because : of course, it would entirely depend of your drake's personality!
But really, I would not worry about it for the time being.

⚠ Now, it does NOT mean that separating your ducks in 2 groups is a good idea!

If you put your drake in another coop, then you should put ALL of his girls there with him.

► I would really recommend that you keep your ducks and your chickens separated in different shelters : you don't want your chickens being unhealthy because the moisture/dampness caused by your ducks ends up making them sick... right?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/over-breeding-caused-injury-on-hen.843253/