Duck mating question

[wolf15]

Hello I've been reading these forums for about a year now and decided to finally join. We started out with 4 pekin ducks last year (3 females, 1 male). We lost one female several months ago to a neighborhood dog (we no longer let them free range unattended). A few weeks ago, we lost another female to an unknown illness. Now, with just 1 female and 1 male, we have a couple of issues. First, my husband bought me an incubator to try and get our flock back up. The very same day we got around to putting eggs in the incubator for our first try, our last female decided to become broody! Okay, so that's not really an 'issue', we are excited to see what happens. Our real issue is that now that there is only one female left, I noticed today that she has a bald spot on her neck that is a bit raw from the male trying to mate. Is it time to separate the 2? Do I need to separate indefinitely or just for certain amounts of times?

 

[Spyderk117]

Welcome to BYC!

Certain amounts of time will not work, I did that and my drakes wanted to mate my hens like crazy. So you might want to look for 2 more hens.

 

[wolf15]

What about supervised? Let them mate once a day or so? I think our plan is to separate completely at least until we find out if we're getting new ducklings. We're only on day 4 of both the incubator eggs and our female nesting.

 

[Hybridchucks]

What about supervised? Let them mate once a day or so? I think our plan is to separate completely at least until we find out if we're getting new ducklings. We're only on day 4 of both the incubator eggs and our female nesting.

i think that would be fine.......but be there.....

 

[chickens really]

Stressing her now if setting is not the time to remove the Drake...He won't be breeding her if setting anyways...Her hormones have changed...Remove him a few days before hatching to give her the privacy she needs to raise her Ducklings...

 

[wolf15]

Stressing her now if setting is not the time to remove the Drake...He won't be breeding her if setting anyways...Her hormones have changed...Remove him a few days before hatching to give her the privacy she needs to raise her Ducklings...

Good point. I can't watch them all day, but it appears she's only leaving the nest a couple times a day to bath/eat/drink. That's when he goes after her. I'm wondering if I should add a wire partition to their pen so they are 'together', but he can't try to mount her? Sorry, I'm new to this

Also, right now I'm observing the situation. Just trying to get ideas of what to do if needed.

 

[chickens really]

You can try that separation with the partition ....As long as they can see each other they will be okay...He will be fine too....