Expanding our flock

[DuckNana207]

We currently have 3 pekin females, and would like to add some variety to our yard. I would like to get 2 of each of these breeds:

Cayuga, Khaki Campbell, Blue Swedish. Also, eventually Welsh Harlequin.

My question is, what should I plan on for a male/female ratio? Do I get a M/F pair in each breed, or would I be safer to get mostly female? I would like one of each for Harlequin for the coloration. And possibly one of each for Cayuga as well? They will be kept together, and free range during the day. Thoughts or suggestions??

 

[Ratchnick]

You probably want to have mostly females.

 

[EverythingDucks]

If you just had two drakes (Cayuga and WH) and nine females (3 pekins, 2 swedish, 2 KCs, 1 cayuga, and 1 WH) that would be a great ratio.
However if you had 8 females (3 pekins, 1 swedish, 1 KC, 1 cayuga, and 1 WH) and 5 drakes (1 swedish, 1 KC, 1 cayuga, and 1 WH) they may overwhelm the females.
Unless you got more females I wouldn't have that many drakes.
I hope I'm understanding this correctly.

Over all though it's best to have 1 drake per 4 females.

 

[KaleIAm]

I agree with the above posters who feel a mostly female flock would be best. If you do get drakes I would recommend 1-2 and during spring and summer watch for signs of overmating. Sometimes a drake can choose a favorite duck and give her too much, "attention."

I have an all female flock and that works out very well. Before I adopted 3 of my girls they were overmated and one in particular was seriously injured and suffers long term damage. Sometimes members report that their drakes even kill their female ducks. Drakes aren't mean, they just have a strong hormonal drive to mate and don't understand that they are damaging the ducks. Of course, drakes are gorgeous and we also hear of them being very sweet gentlemen.

 

[Sheepheart]

Try to keep your females higher than your males. Two or three drakes would be a safe number, shouldn’t have a problem with over breeding.

I also have three female Pekins, three female kahki campbells, a female black crested, a male black crested, and four male kahki campbells. All the males were going fine until end of last month, three of the khakis were ganging up on my black crested girl, they were going to be going down the road or in the freezer anyway but now they have their own pen and arnt allowed to be with the girls. They arnt to upset because they have a private pool and don’t have to worry about the geese kicking them out.

 

[DuckNana207]

Thanks for all the input! I have ordered 2 female Khaki Campbells, and 2 Blue swedish. Then one male and female Cayuga. We'll see how they winter with our 3 pekin females, and then decide if we want to add a pair of Welsh Harlequin next year.