Duck problem

[Kezs]

I purchased 6 hen chicks and 2 ducks about 7 weeks ago. The ducks were straight run and mixed breeds. The first duck is easy, she is a Magpie and she quacks, so I know she is a girl. The second is the one I am worried about.

It is a Rouen based on the eye stripes and the fact that it is bigger than the Magpie, and a Mallard would be much smaller. However, it hasn't started quacking, so I am very concerned it is a boy. There is NO WAY I can get more ducks because we are already having major issues with water soaking the sand in our run and making it impossible to keep clean and not smelly. I posted about that in the building forum if anyone has ideas for that! I also know the ratio is supposed to be 1 male for every 5 females to keep the females safe from over-mating (and the chickens since he will hurt and possibly kill them if they try to mate the hens) .

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the females (duck and chickens) safe if it is a male without buying more females, assuming I can find someone to even sell me just females? They are so closely bonded it isn't funny. They are never more than 2 feet apart, sleep with their heads on each other, and if I have to pick one up they go nuts quacking or peeping until they are together again. If I give them away, I am afraid they will be eaten.

 

[Ratchnick]

I have talked to people who have luck with duck pairs. You might need to keep them away from the chickens though.

 

[Kezs]

How does a duck pair work? How would it be different than normal duck flocks? I'm new to all of this and SO lost.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Separate your ducks from your chickens give them their own run and coop then you can search for a few more females for your drake . 3 to 1 may work my Muscovy group is 4 to 1 and it’s working fine.

 

[Knighstar679]

It all depends on on the personality of the drake. I had one that was very nice to his girl. Others can be devils. You won’t really know until next year.

 

[Ratchnick]

How does a duck pair work? How would it be different than normal duck flocks? I'm new to all of this and SO lost.

I have heard that the drakes can get competitive. Having multiple drakes with bad ratio is the worst. Pairs seem to work for people

 

[Kezs]

Getting more ducks is not an option due to how loud they are and how messy; technically we aren't supposed to have them in our HOA but our neighbors don't seem to mind. I've heard that they can't ever be with chickens, but we don't have room for a 2nd run. Would it be possible to have the ducks and chickens together in a outdoor run area, but have them be in separate areas at night? As long as the water is kept away from the chicken coop? I've also heard that the different poop will cause a problem with the chickens? There is so much conflicting information.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have both chickens and ducks in my coop but no food or water inside. Ducks are slobs and will make a complete mess of the bedding. I use heated buckets for winter and reg buckets for summer. You def need good ventilation in a coop with keeping both together. But I've been doing this since 2009 when I brought home chickens and haven't had any problems. Mine are on little over half acre fenced during the day. No way mine could be penned in together.

 

[Beaglegal]

I have talked to people who have luck with duck pairs. You might need to keep them away from the chickens though.

Agree, I also know people who have done well with pairs. My drake originally had only 2 females and fine as well. I would agree with separating them from the chickens. My drake bullied a chicken that kept coming into the duck barn pretty badly until I figured out how she was getting in. They don’t always mesh with chickens

 

[Beaglegal]

It all depends on on the personality of the drake. I had one that was very nice to his girl. Others can be devils. You won’t really know until next year.

100% agree, depends on the drake