HELP: Questions about drakes... who stays, who goes?

[jbear697]

I have few questions as it is the auctions next week and I'm making decisions about my flock...
I currently have 6 Muscovys (two drakes and 4 ducks) and 2 pekin mix drakes that all run together all about 5-6months old.

firstly// one of my Muscovy drakes has had his tail feather pulled by one of the others. I didn't see who did it only him chasing the two mix drakes down the other end of the pen and the blood on his tail. I had issues with one of the mix drakes pulling out feathers from my Muscovys when I first introduced them but it stopped and I put it down to just general pecking order stuff. So I'm assuming I know it is this mix drake that has done it and i'm thinking he will need to go to the auction next week. However, do I need to get rid of his friend too? I haven't had issues except the two of them tried to drown one of my girls a few weeks back again hasn't happened since. Would they calm down if I introduced a pekin girl and kept just one of the drakes? or should I just get rid of them both? I only paid $2 a drake at the last auction but I kind of think they're pretty?

Has anyone had similar issues keeping pekin or mixed drakes with Muscovy drakes?

Finally, my two Muscovy drakes aren't fighting yet and get along very well together with the girls. I've heard that they will fight because you cant keep 2 boys with girls but I also heard that if they have grown up together then they might not fight. I have had the two drakes and two of the 4 girls since they were ducklings and I introduced two similar aged girls last week. will the drakes fight? if so should I get rid of him now while they get along or can I wait a couple of months for an auction closer to spring to get best value for him?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've had 2 drakes, actually I had 3 at one time. They will fight. Mine could always leave the area because my ducks aren't confined. Are yours? You really should just keep one drake if they are, otherwise you can try the two and see how it goes. I would get rid of the mixed breeds.

 

[Alaskan]

I would get rid of both mixed breed drakes.

I right now have 4 muscovy drakes and 9 muscovy females.

There is no fighting.

Their pen is big, but it is a pen.

Sometimes when spring hits my males squabble. But then they figure out which girls "belong" to which male, and everything is peaceful.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would get rid of both mixed breed drakes.

I right now have 4 muscovy drakes and 9 muscovy females.

There is no fighting.

Their pen is big, but it is a pen.

Sometimes when spring hits my males squabble. But then they figure out which girls "belong" to which male, and everything is peaceful.

I always had one dominant drake, and the bottom one, or ones, would sneak mate. In your flock they dibb up the females? I currently only have one male. Mine would go at it by grabbing each other's wings and rolling around in a violent ball.

 

[Alaskan]

I always had one dominant drake, and the bottom one, or ones, would sneak mate. In your flock they dibb up the females? I currently only have one male. Mine would go at it by grabbing each other's wings and rolling around in a violent ball.

muscovies?

Wow! No, never... and I have had a few different sets of males.

 

[jbear697]

Yes they are because of dogs and cats in and around our property. And to keep them fox proof.
They’re moving into a very large pen once the weather is nice enough to put the wire on the roof.

I might keep the two Muscovy drakes then until spring. At the moment I can’t tell who is dominant but I knew growing up one girl would sit with drake and the duck with the other drake. Just worried about the two new ones and how that would affect things

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

muscovies?

Wow! No, never... and I have had a few different sets of males.

Yes muscovy. Hmm, maybe I had a rowdy batch?

 

[Alaskan]

Yes muscovy. Hmm, maybe I had a rowdy batch?

maybe I have had just quiet ones.

 

[Alaskan]

My first drake had an awesome personality. ... 3 of my other drakes were his sons... I kept the ones with the best personality.

Of the 4 I have now, 2 are from that original, but the other 2 are not... might be related though.

 

[aart]

I might keep the two Muscovy drakes then until spring.

It's spring now....unless you are on the other side of the world from me.
Good to put your location in your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!