Help! My duckling is a drakeling and I need advice!

[dham]

Ok. My boyfriend and I rescued a young runner whom turns out to be a drakeling. The only way I can keep him is if I know for sure he won't bother my hens too much if we get him a female friend. Any one have experience with this? I can get him a lady friend at the feed store since its Easter weekend and I now know how to sex them.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

My boy does chase my hens during the spring from time to time, mostly so they stay away from his girls. He used to try to mount my hens when he was a bachelor but now that he has some of his own kind he hasn't done it that I am aware of.

 

[dham]

Thank you!

 

[jsp28504]

Would they be staying with large or bantam chickens? I have had Moscovy's with large fowl with no problems, I also keep a call duck in with my silkies, the only catch with her is, she is a micro call duck who is about half the size of the silkies she stays with. I wouldn't recommend keeping large ducks with small chickens.

 

[dham]

They're medium to large. 2 BO, 2 EE, 1 RIR, 1 Barred Rock. If he's to. Be kept he needs a friend anyway but knowing a lady friend will keep him off our hens will help my argument.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They're medium to large. 2 BO, 2 EE, 1 RIR, 1 Barred Rock. If he's to. Be kept he needs a friend anyway but knowing a lady friend will keep him off our hens will help my argument.

Is there no way you can give him and his lady a separate area so they don't mingle with each other? I have large EE' down to bantams and 2 roos and have never had one of my Scovie drakes go after a hen maybe because they have alot of ducks to keep them happy, and also they have alot fo room to stay out of each others way. I hope you can keep Hans and are able to get him a Princess Leah he is such a beautiful boy

 

[dham]

Miss Lydia! Always there with advice I am so grateful for! Yes they will have room to stay out of each others way and I could potentially separate the yard for them if it became necessary! W just have a contribution rule... If they contribute we'll feed it if not it doesn't go on the feed bill... I'm trying to justify Han with the protection contribution... He may help protect the flock without being so loud as a rooster and we don't have to worry about fertilized chicken eggs. Our roommate says just get another duckling and I'm loving his advice!

 

[dham]

Hans stays! I going to get him a girlfriend (or two) right now!

 

[jdywntr]

I think it all depends on the bird. Some will do fine with a single female, even with chickens around. Others, want every female they are with as theirs. I would get a female, as long as you are VERY comfortable with sexing (if you ended up with 2 drakes, all bets are off). Then, have a back up plan, if needed, and seperate the ducks from the chickens.

My drake leaves the chickens alone unless they get to close to something he wants and then he grabs a tail feather. He does have 4 girls of his own but has been down to 1 when I had 2 setting and 1 raising her babeis. He still didn't bother the chickens then.

Oh, I'd also avoid large breeds, to make things easier on the runner drakelet. If he has problems mating with, say a Pekin, he could turn to the chickens. If you can get a small or medium breed, I think that would be better.

 

[dham]

I checked two girls that I'm hoping are runners myself and had the guys at the feed store help me. We all felt that we were holding girls. I'll post pictures in a minute and we can play the what am I game!