Ducks and chicken sexes

[Annmarie715]

Hello. I’m new here and to the outdoor bird world (I’ve had indoor bird pets my entire life).
I am going to get 10 female chics in a few weeks and want to add 4 ducklings shortly thereafter. Both will be in separate brooders etc.
*my question is.... can I get all female
ducks? Do I have to get a drake?
(I will have a separate duck coop but the chickens and ducks will share a huge free range area... predator proof)

thank you!!

 

[HappyDuckie]

No, you do not need a drake unless you plan on breeding them.

 

[SolarDuck]

I would recommend getting only female ducks, if you get a drake it could end up hurting the chickens.

 

[3bird]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

You do not need a drake as @HappyDuckie said (unless you plan on breeding them). We choose to keep a drake because we like the flock dynamic, and drakes are very handsome (at least our Angus is!).

Our drake does a pretty good job watching out for the flock. It is pretty common to see all the girls foraging while Angus is scoping out the skies and the perimeter. He has a distinctive alarm call, and will call all the girls together. He also does his best to keep them all together when they are free ranging. He can be very sweet (Mouse, who is also a silver Appleyard, is his best girl).

Having said all that, Keeping a drake with a small flock is a lot more work. During breeding season (~April-September), we need to manage the flock pretty closely and make sure to keep him separate from certain girls. Drakes can also be deadly to chickens during mating season.

Please keep us posted on what you decided to do, and post lots of pictures!

 

[Annmarie715]

No, you do not need a drake unless you plan on breeding them.

Perfect. Thank you!

 

[Annmarie715]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens!

You do not need a drake as @HappyDuckie said (unless you plan on breeding them). We choose to keep a drake because we like the flock dynamic, and drakes are very handsome (at least our Angus is!).

View attachment 2555950
Our drake does a pretty good job watching out for the flock. It is pretty common to see all the girls foraging while Angus is scoping out the skies and the perimeter. He has a distinctive alarm call, and will call all the girls together. He also does his best to keep them all together when they are free ranging. He can be very sweet (Mouse, who is also a silver Appleyard, is his best girl).

View attachment 2555951

Having said all that, Keeping a drake with a small flock is a lot more work. During breeding season (~April-September), we need to manage the flock pretty closely and make sure to keep him separate from certain girls. Drakes can also be deadly to chickens during mating season.

Please keep us posted on what you decided to do, and post lots of pictures!

 

[Annmarie715]

Super helpful. Thank you so much

I would recommend getting only female ducks, if you get a drake it could end up hurting the chickens.

I would recommend getting only female ducks, if you get a drake it could end up hurting the chickens.

Ok thank you!

 

[KaleIAm]

I agree with the above posters.

I would like to add that if you do get a drake you may need to have more female ducks to spread out his "affections." Female ducks can be injured and killed by overmating.

I have only female ducks and it works out well for me.

 

[Annmarie715]

I agree with the above posters.

I would like to add that if you do get a drake you may need to have more female ducks to spread out his "affections." Female ducks can be injured and killed by overmating.

I have only female ducks and it works out well for me.

Yes that’s what I’ve been reading. Yikes. Poor girls. Ok glad you don’t have issues with all girls. That will be my route as well. Thanks so much.

 

[Annmarie715]

Wonderful. Thank you