Duckling drama : )

[gabriellecora]

Hi-

I am new to Pekins. We have 2 6 week old Pekins. My hope was both would be female, but I am thinking one is a male. I have a very vocal one (a deeper honk type sound) and one that still kinda cheeps (has never sounded much different as he/she gets older).

My question is-
I also have 6 hens. All 8 of these ladies (6 chickens 2 ducks) have been raised together from day one... They really hate being separated. However, if this duckling is a drake will he hurt the rest of them? Currently they all share a run but the ducks have their own house for nighttime. I just do not know what is best for them and would rather handle it sooner than later, if possible.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My drake dont even bother my chickens.

 

[DucksAndGardens]

Drakes have been known to mate with anything they can get their "feathers" on so they could hurt your chickens if he tried to mate with them. But at 6 weeks and still hearing peeping/cheeping there's no way to tell for sure. The loud Quacker is definitely female but give the other one time. If it goes through puberty and his voice changes to a whisper then you will know for sure. And if he is a male he may just want to be with your duck and not go after the chickens. I don't like to keep ducks and chickens together because ducks are so much messier but I've had it work out in the past and the drake never bothered my chickens.