Duck flock happiness question - Opinions/advice please

[LoreenH]

I am planning on getting 5 or 6 ducks (more than likely Swedish) this spring. I have read that it’s fine to have all females but they would be happier with a drake when the mating urge comes around. I’ve read that ducks will mount other ducks if there is no drake. I know you only need a drake if you want more ducks. I’m not planning on hatching ducklings so eggs would be collected on a daily basis. I just want to do whatever I need to do to keep the girls happy.

Thank you,
Loreen

 

[hendrix25]

Based on your wants I wouldn't worry about getting a drake then. All my ducks are drakes and I was told that some of them might mount each other too. So no matter which sex you have I think they will all go through the motions if the other sex isn't available. If you have a drake you take the possibility of having ducklings. I know you said you would collect the eggs everyday but what if you don't find the nest and a duck goes broody? Something to think about. I've read that ducks are not like chickens when it comes to "going to nesting boxes" to lay their eggs. You might have some ducks build their own nest and you won't find it. I've read several post where members find a broody nest of eggs after it's too late to pull the eggs. Good Luck!!

FYI: I also read during my research, that when there isn't a drake in a flock, (sometimes) a female will develop a tail feather and begin to mount the others. So don't be alarmed if you know for sure you have all females then you see a tail feather on one of them. I don't think it happens often though.

 

[LoreenH]

We live in the city on a large lot so there wouldn't really be a lot of hiding places for nests. We do have a lot of landscaping but the ducks would be in their pen at night and when we are not home. We probably could let them free-range the backyard all day but one of our neighbor's has friends over that sometimes bring their dog (once it killed their 3 chickens) and I'd be afraid it would dig under the fence to get to the ducks. Their pen will be as-much-as-possible predator-proof......no chicken wire, hardware cloth/rabbit wire only....top, bottom, and sides.

 

[kawonu]

I wouldn't worry about not having a drake then. Some of them will be more dominate, but if your not wanting fertile eggs then I would just have the same sex.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I have 3 khaki campbell ducks, all girls. They don't require much to keep them happy, in our run we have a kiddie pool that I refill daily. I let them out to free range either the full day or in the evenings. They love grass so if they aren't able to free range I throw grass clippings/lettuce in the pool to give them something to do!
I haven't seen the ducks mount each other, I have a rooster though who just loves them though!!

No eggs yet for me, mine are only 17weeks right now, but the khaki campbells are suppose to be the best for eggs!

I will add that they are quite chatty, they are the 1st to give sound to the flock that I am headed their way!

 

[Dances with Ducks]

Quote:
You could keep that dog from digging into your yard. Dig down a couple of feet along that side of the fence and put in hardware cloth, then cover it back up and you have free range ducks!