Drake quantity

[manurefarmer]

I have 8 ducklings, 2 Rouens and 2 Pekins. It appears 2 Pekins, and both of my Rouens are males. My understanding is I can’t have too many drakes. I am debating keeping one pekin (my favorite big fluffy male) and a Rouen (my boyfriends favorite birdie) will the Rouen try to mate with my Pekins? They are a good size difference. I just don’t want my Pekin ladies being mated to death. They are housed separate from my chickens, will the drakes leave the chickens alone and not try to mate them. The drakes have not reached sexually maturity, so no problems yet but I am reading and researching and don’t want to have problems in a couple weeks!!
I would have 1 Pekin drake, a Rouen drake, and 4 Pekin Ducks/hens.

 

[sourland]

The Rouen will mate with the Pekins. Drakes raised in conjunction with other ducks, in my experience, are less likely to try to mate with chicken hens.

 

[Cazook]

I would keep the drakes and chickens separate. They will easily kill them.

 

[Landgirl63]

The Rouen will mate with the Pekins. Drakes raised in conjunction with other ducks, in my experience, are less likely to try to mate with chicken hens.

I’m totally new to ducks and loving the Q&A here. My question is if you don’t want cross breeding, does that mean you need to house Pekin and Rouen separately at night? Or do they need to be separated during the day too?

 

[Isadora]

I’m totally new to ducks and loving the Q&A here. My question is if you don’t want cross breeding, does that mean you need to house Pekin and Rouen separately at night? Or do they need to be separated during the day too?

Complete separation.

 

[Landgirl63]

Bother, and thanks

Complete separation.

!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I’m totally new to ducks and loving the Q&A here. My question is if you don’t want cross breeding, does that mean you need to house Pekin and Rouen separately at night? Or do they need to be separated during the day too?

Most hatcheries separate ducks for a full 18 days for purebred ducklings. I use to wait 30 days just to be extra safe.

 

[Landgirl63]

Thanks! We don’t know how old the ducks we are getting are so will ask the seller some more questions, and see how we go