Get rid of a drake or add ducks?

[CJsCoop]

So, this is my first experience with ducks. We got four ducklings on April 14th- 2 khaki Campbell’s, 2 “mallards”(they seem awfully big to me). We ended up with two pair. Has anyone had any luck with this ratio? Should we get rid of one of the drakes? Or should we add more ducks?
Their house is 4x4. They only sleep in it. I lock them in at night to keep them safe. Their run is 8x11. They are only locked in the run until they finished their breakfast and if it storms. We live down in a hollow, the stream they hang out in is prone to flash flooding and they are still young and dumb.

 

[CJsCoop]

The kids and their little neighborhood...

 

[shawluvsbirds]

So, this is my first experience with ducks. We got four ducklings on April 14th- 2 khaki Campbell’s, 2 “mallards”(they seem awfully big to me). We ended up with two pair. Has anyone had any luck with this ratio? Should we get rid of one of the drakes? Or should we add more ducks?
Their house is 4x4. They only sleep in it. I lock them in at night to keep them safe. Their run is 8x11. They are only locked in the run until they finished their breakfast and if it storms. We live down in a hollow, the stream they hang out in is prone to flash flooding and they are still young and dumb.

Depends on how many ducks you wanna have in the long run
If you wanna keep your drakes you will probably end up needing to get more ducks. They possibly could do ok in pairs, but be ready to separate them if necessary. Once hormones start raging you might have a problem with over breeding. Especially if they both end up prefering one over the other which happens sometimes
They look to me like Rouen ducks. Lots of people mistake them for mallards.

 

[CJsCoop]

Depends on how many ducks you wanna have in the long run
If you wanna keep your drakes you will probably end up needing to get more ducks. They possibly could do ok in pairs, but be ready to separate them if necessary. Once hormones start raging you might have a problem with over breeding. Especially if they both end up prefering one over the other which happens sometimes
They look to me like Rouen ducks. Lots of people mistake them for mallards.

Thanks for the reply! How many ducks would we need to add? And would their space be adequate for the bit of time they are confined?

 

[MillersFarm]

When keeping multiple drakes together breeding can be very stressful for your hens, A good ratio for a single drake would be 4-6 no less, But if i'm keeping more then just 1 drake I like to have at least 6 hens per drake to keep everyone happy and avoid over-breeding problems.

 

[CJsCoop]

When keeping multiple drakes together breeding can be very stressful for your hens, A good ratio for a single drake would be 4-6 no less, But if i'm keeping more then just 1 drake I like to have at least 6 hens per drake to keep everyone happy and avoid over-breeding problems.

Hmm... It looks like Qwackers may have to go. Are drakes as hard to rehome as roosters?

 

[JedJackson]

You have to decide what's best for you. Adding a few more ducks might or might not do the trick. If there are no problems now, then I would just wait and watch them closely. If the males turn aggressive toward each other or the females are being over mated, then I would start looking for a solution.

 

[MillersFarm]

Hmm... It looks like Qwackers may have to go. Are drakes as hard to rehome as roosters?

They can be, i'd try posting ads up on craigslist or flyers in local feed stores.. for me it's easier to buy more hens than it is to re-home unwanted drakes in most cases..