Drake to hen ratios

[duck lover 27]

Hey all!
I'm a new duck momma of 2 Pekin drakes ( almost positive both are drakes ) they are I believe 10 weeks old. I'm ordering 10 Ducklings tomorrow to add to my flock! Breeds include Cayuga, Rouen, Welsh Harlequin, buff & black swedish..should all 10 be hens? That would make for a 1:5 Drake hen ratio. Also do any of these breed require wing clipping? TIA

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You probably will want only one drake to 10 hens.

 

[Conan]

You probably will want only one drake to 10 hens.

Agreed. I've never had any luck keeping more than one drake regardless of the number of hens when it comes to my standard ducks.
Everyone's flock is different, and it doesn't hurt to try, but best to have a back up plan for when/if things go sour.

 

[duck lover 27]

You probably won't need to worry about it until your ducks are a bit older. When mature some drakes are aggressive towards other drakes, and they can over mate hens. Every situation is different. Come next spring you may figure out how best to proceed.

I keep muscovy, so I'm not up on sexing mallard based breeds, except for the eventual development of the drake feather.

I've tried posting a picture and also recordings of their quacks.. I've seen some say not all hens find their adult quack at this age but I'm unsure lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are you using the up load a file next to post a reply? Did you ever have your ducks on any kind of supplement when they were tiny ducklings? you maybe seeing a niacin deficiency. Pekin especially are prone to one because they grow super fast. And when we us chick starter it doesn't have the amount of niacin a growing duckling needs for strong legs.

 

[duck lover 27]

Are you using the up load a file next to post a reply? Did you ever have your ducks on any kind of supplement when they were tiny ducklings? you maybe seeing a niacin deficiency. Pekin especially are prone to one because they grow super fast. And when we us chick starter it doesn't have the amount of niacin a growing duckling needs for strong legs.

Are you using the up load a file next to post a reply? Did you ever have your ducks on any kind of supplement when they were tiny ducklings? you maybe seeing a niacin deficiency. Pekin especially are prone to one because they grow super fast. And when we us chick starter it doesn't have the amount of niacin a growing duckling needs for strong legs.

I tried uploading a file on this reply not sure if it worked but no never used chick starter or gave any suppliments. He leg is straight with no sweeling for fever to it.. he does however has really small feet compared to my other Pekin. When I got them I was recommended the meat bird crumbles because that's what the store was feeding them. After i ran out I switched to an all flock feed. It had lower a protein %

 

[EdgewaterDucks]

This has been an interesting thread for me. A have a flock of Welshies with one drake and originally 5 hens (2 have since died). I hatched 4 more this last April. These ducklings are all girls, and for a while I was disappointed because I was thinking a 1 to 7 ratio was too skewed, and my boy might be wanting to have some bro-time with another drake. But reading the above advice (especially honanbm's Post #13) , I'm seeing now that everything might have turned out for the best.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You probably won't need to worry about it until your ducks are a bit older. When mature some drakes are aggressive towards other drakes, and they can over mate hens. Every situation is different. Come next spring you may figure out how best to proceed.

I keep muscovy, so I'm not up on sexing mallard based breeds, except for the eventual development of the drake feather.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Not sure why I can't upload anything?

I think you need so many posts before you can upload photos, but I'm not positive.

 

[duck lover 27]

I think you need so many posts before you can upload photos, but I'm not positive.

Ahh makes sense thank you!