How many per??

[nachoqtpie]

So, we have 4 ducks. I was HOPING that we would get lucky and have 2 males and 2 females.

No such luck!! We got 1 female and 3 males. :-/

We built an 8'x24' enclosure, and are in the process of getting a better duck house built (probably about 4x4 or so).

I'm trying to simply trade someone a male for a female duck, but haven't had much luck yet. If I can't find someone to trade the duck, how many ducks could I comfortably contain in my enclosure? If I can't trade, then I might just add 2 female ducks, if I have the room.

I have a dog house in there now and they very rarely ever go in there. I have a 6' plastic kiddie pool in there for now, but we are thinking about actually putting in a small pond in there for them, with a gravel bog to try and keep it somewhat cleaner. (I know that the only way to REALLY clean it is to empty it out.)

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[nachoqtpie]

Anybody?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

1/1 is not a good ratio of drakes to ducks. 3/1, 5/1 are better so one girl isn't over bred and beat up on.

 

[nachoqtpie]

So basically what you are saying is, I would need to get rid of 2 of my drakes and get 2 more hens??

Is my space adequate for the 4 ducks? How big should I make the coop? Is the 4x4 going to be enough? I don't keep them in the house at night, just let them have free run of the enclosure.

 

[nachoqtpie]

Okay, so I found a local hatchery that is going to take my 2 mallard boys and sell me 2 female Pekin. How do I introduce the 2 new females to my 2 other Pekins?

 

[Kevin565]

So basically what you are saying is, I would need to get rid of 2 of my drakes and get 2 more hens??

Is my space adequate for the 4 ducks? How big should I make the coop? Is the 4x4 going to be enough? I don't keep them in the house at night, just let them have free run of the enclosure.

Yes I would rehome the drakes. I think your entire closure should be fine but I think they are going to mess up that coop too quickly.

Okay, so I found a local hatchery that is going to take my 2 mallard boys and sell me 2 female Pekin. How do I introduce the 2 new females to my 2 other Pekins?

Make sure you quarantine them first. Then most people set up a fence between the two so they can see each other but not get to each other. After awhile the fence is taken down and the pecking order is established.

 

[zooweemama]

X2 to what Kevin said. Congrats to the new Pekins. I think my Pekins are so uber silly!

 

[ChickInDelight]

How is everything going? Pekin ducks are a good choice - thick necks. Despite my best efforts, I keep ending up with too many drakes. The Pekin girls loose neck feathers, but my poor little Indian Runner is now quarentined with infected eyes. Her thin little neck can't handle those rough drakes. Always, it seems the drakes favor the smallest duck in the lot.

 

[nachoqtpie]

Okay.. How long should I separate them by fence?

 

[Kevin565]

I always give at least 2 weeks with the partition.