How many calls per breeding pen do you recommend?

[CreamBruelle]

I'm about to build some breeding pens for my calls but idk how many ducks I should have per pen. I was thinking 8 (5 females, 3 males) but was thinking that the ratio would create fertility problems. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[mustangrooster]

Knowing ducks, im not so sure if 3 males per 5 females would work.....how many ducks do you have? It may work to have at least 1 male to 5 females...and then go from there...you could try 3 males to 5 females, but i would worry about the hens getting beat up. Males get very..um..rough...in the spring. So just beware.

Best of luck.

-Mustang

 

[PINOAK RIDGE]

I'm about to build some breeding pens for my calls but idk how many ducks I should have per pen. I was thinking 8 (5 females, 3 males) but was thinking that the ratio would create fertility problems. Any suggestions?

Thanks

We, like many call duck breeders, keep our call ducks in pairs and trios. Call ducks, in our almost 30 years of experience, don't follow the same guidelines as other domestic duck breeds. Some drakes will pair bond and attack any extra females & sometimes even the female will bully other females. Whenever we've tried to add extra females, the girls would be attacked and fertility in that pen dropped. This has been tried on multiple new breeding pens thru out the years.

You could try your ratio and carefully watch the birds. If you see lots of fighting, you may need to separate. Energy spent on fighting is less energy to devote to courting and breeding. Plus, they can be quite determined and you wouldn't want your ducks being injured or killed.

Pairs and trios have worked very well for us over the years. You and others may experience different results. Hope this helps. Good luck & enjoy your ducks.

 

[chickens really]

Everyone I know keeps Calls in pairs or trios also.......Even then trios might not work?....Little Calls will either love one Hen or Two?...As stated, fighting happens if the Hens are not happy together....And to many Drakes is a disaster.........

My story.......

I have 6 Ducks....3 Standard, two Hens and a Drake and 3 Calls two Hens and a Drake......

Plan A- I had them all housed together, they are all young 9 months old except for my one Call hen she is going to be 3 years old....

Breeding started here so I had to remove my Call Drake so my Welsh did not hurt or kill him.......Was going to rehome the Call Drake.....Had him in my garage for 5 days.......I let The Call Drake out to free range with the flock and his two Call Hens ran for him, head bobbing and QUACKING their dear heads off.......lol

Plan B.......I will be keeping my Call Drake and building another Call Duck pen in the Spring....Can not keep him from his ladies.....lol
For the most part though during all this mating that is going on here, My two Drakes are best friends....They cuddle together and play together in the tubs of water....What I seen was fights over one Hen...My Call Drake now has zero interest in her and loves his two Call Hens......My point is, always have a back up plan in place.....Things change daily with breeding Ducks.....

Tomorrow I might need to move to Plan C.......lol....

I love Ducks........Little feathered puppies.......



Cheers!

 

[learycow]

Last year I wasn't able to separate my calls in time for breeding so they were all housed together (roughly 25 females and 15 males). My fertility was low until about 2 weeks into steady laying. Then it was 100% until they stopped for the season.
I cull heavily for aggression which seems to work as I didn't have any hens or drakes that were mean towards others.

So you can try to leave yours as they are and see how they do

 

[chickens really]

Now it is Back to Plan A........My Hens Chose their Drakes and all is happy in our world....Both Drakes are back to cuddling each other and Zero fights...Breeding hens and I have puppies in the incubator right now......Little Duckies on the way.......


Cheers!