Duck Questions.

[sapphirenight13]

Hello all,

So I have 2 ducks and I have never raised ducks before. So I have a few questions. One I know is a Pekin (Donald )
I am not sure about the other (Moby ). So I will post a picture below. I also noticed that the tail feathers are kind of sticking up. Does that mean that they are drakes? normally they are with my chickens and today I let them out and the two ducks where holding one of my chickens (Timid She is an Easter Egger) by the neck, Donald let her go when I got close enough, but Moby I had to hold down and get to let go. Is this something that I need to be concerned about.

 

[Amiga]

Yes, your chickens are at risk. It is because drakes are built very differently from roosters and the drakes could seriously (or fatally) injure a chicken trying to mate with her.

Your beautiful drakes need to be separated from the hens. Right away.

@sapphirenight13 - just trying to make sure you get notified of a response.

 

[Pyxis]

They are both drakes, yes. To add to what Amiga said, I would also get them some females of their own, preferably at least three per drake. If you do that and they are satisfied that they have enough ladies of their own species you may be able to let them back in with your chickens without them trying to mate with them any more.

 

[sapphirenight13]

OK. thanks soo, very much. I am in the middle of down town Raleigh. So my yard while it being an ok size for being down town will not be able to hold 6 more ducks with out issue from the neighbors. So I guess this might be where my Duck adventure ends. Which is kind of very interesting. My boyfriends sister gave us the ducks because she couldnt have them at her dads house because they didn't have fenced in yard, and then she moved to an apartment in Boone. Do now we are taking care of them. But If they are going to hurt my Chickens I will have t get rid of them to someone else with ducks.

 

[Amiga]

Please do set up some kind of divider right away - they don't let up at night.

 

[sapphirenight13]

right now because of the way that they coup is set up my chickens are off the ground pretty high, and the ducks cant get up there. Good thing that I made it so my chickens had to fly to get up there. The drakes are really to big to get that high. Which right now is a blessing.

 

[Amiga]

Good to know!

Uhm, I am a real worry wort about predators. Please tell me the drakes are safe…..

I think I understood that they are all safe in the coop, but the chickens are up on roosts? You don't think they'll fly down, do you? Can you tell I am quite ignorant about chickens?

 

[sapphirenight13]

They are all safe. I lock the coup door at night. I dont think that they will harm my girls while the girls are all together, because Gwanita and Precious don't take crap from any one. All the girls love to snuggel together. the drakes attacked timid while she was away from the others which doesnt happen often. Its ok that you dont know much about chickens. Most of the times my girls stay on what is supposed to be 2 nesting boxes. I really dont have preditors in my area so far all I have seen is a Hawk and even it stays clear because of the dog in the lot over, he makes tons of noise all the time, any time he hears noises.

 

[Amiga]

Thanks! I have read so many sad stories and know some folks who have lost ducks to predators.

 

[sapphirenight13]

Yea I have heard of it too. If it comes down to it I will give them to good homes.