If you had to start ALL OVER raising ducks, WHAT would you get, do over...????

[RobertaD1]

a few of you here mention wanted them sexed and go for either all males or all females.
why?
i always wanted yo have a mix to get ducklings.. but just starting here and pretty new to ducks.
thank you

I dont really need the eggs.. so all males would work well for me. I also dont plan on hatching... at least not right now.
I also dont want overmating that comes with small flocks.

 

[Weeg]

a few of you here mention wanted them sexed and go for either all males or all females.
why?
i always wanted yo have a mix to get ducklings.. but just starting here and pretty new to ducks.
thank you

You can't have more the 1 male, with 6-8 females in my opinion. Otherwise the girls get over mated.

 

[Littlefrenchyinbigtexas]

You can't have more the 1 male, with 6-8 females in my opinion. Otherwise the girls get over mated.

Thank you. Some of them are too small to tell yet.

 

[Weeg]

Thank you. Some of them are too small to tell yet.

How old? Are they quacking? If the quack is raspy, it can mean male, and a clear, loud quack can mean female. If you have to many males, you can make a separate pen a wase away from the ladies, and as long as they can see them/hear them well, they won't fight, and the girls won't get over mated.

 

[Littlefrenchyinbigtexas]

How old? Are they quacking? If the quack is raspy, it can mean male, and a clear, loud quack can mean female. If you have to many males, you can make a separate pen a wase away from the ladies, and as long as they can see them/hear them well, they won't fight, and the girls won't get over mated.

About 5 weeks old. Don’t have their feathers yet. And they are rescued ducks. A breed mix. One is a Pekin for sure, but not sure of the others.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

I'd double how many I got . But no, in all seriousness, I'd have decided wether I wanted an egg laying breed, a meat eating breed or a lawn ornament breed. I got 2 muscovy girls to start with having no idea they are very poor layers so they were my lawn ornaments. And then I got them some friends and a very handsome drake to make ducklings. An advantage to muscovies is they don't need a lot of water to be happy (or breed as Donald taught me) just a bucket to plunge their head in. Some things I'd invest in is a self draining/easy draining pool. A bigger pool even... with an easy clean filter (because they will clog it). And because I had a big enough run, a duck proof ramp (one for chickens to climb) up to a platform with a chicken waterer, so the ducks don't drain it.

 

[Weeg]

About 5 weeks old. Don’t have their feathers yet. And they are rescued ducks. A breed mix. One is a Pekin for sure, but not sure of the others.

You can post pictures of them, and a video of them quacking if you want us to help with gender! start another thread and they should be old enough to get a good guess. A quaking video would be best!

 

[Newbie6789]

What an excellent question! I am a relative new "duckie". A few things I have learned/observed in my short 1.5 years:
1. PERSONAL investment: They were a surprise gift from hubby (his pIan was for experience, then dinner and done - nice surprise with two female Pekins starting to lay....I got my way to keep them for eggs over the winter
2. Depending on your "want" for the ducks, plan the right breed for you (egg production, pets, noise level, personality, etc.)
3. Ducks are messy!!! It takes mental understanding about that, but still MESSY!!! They LOVE to totally trash clear, clean water in less than 5 seconds!!! Once you "get" it ..you are converted
4. They need water access, more than hydration and they are COMPLETELY ADVERSE to Clean Water - see above comment
5. Now that I have them accustomed to free range - that is the best!!! SOOOO fun to watch their antics, personalities and crazy happy waddles!. I keep food and pen for safety and they are happy to go into after the day to keep safe. Hubby even sends me funny photos of the ducks
6. IMHO - they need work and attention.....if I was to add up my investment, my eggs would be >$50/doz!!!!! Keep in mind, we are still "setting up". Still love them and not looking this to be a $$$ adventure
7. We now have 8 ducks for winter, in WI (last yr just 2, so MUCH easier!!!). We have purchased a 100 gal. galvanized hog water to be heated and a 300 gallon Rubbermaid tub (dug in) to be heated for a winter water/pond), already determined we need a ramp for some of the ducks to get out . Hubby working on a "get out of the the best pond EVER" ramp
8. A "hut/coop" is needed for safety as well as training them to lay the eggs in one place (DEFINITELY not fool proof - ugghhhg!!!)
9. An Enclosure (outside of the "house/coop" to ensure they are predator safe is crucial!! i.e. I lock mine in EVERY night and then let them out for free range in the morning
10. ABOVE ALL:::::: Enjoy them and all their crazy personalities, they are a TOTAL HOOT!!!
11. I have been on the farm my entire life - new to ducks and had NO IDEA how amazingly GREAT they are!!!! My MIS perception - - "fowl couldn't have personalities". HOW MORE wrong could I have been!!!!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

This is good to know! I do intend to make a "house" for them in the end of it to have a dryish area for them to sleep, I expect a tarp will come into play at some point.
Do you by chance have any pictures of your set up?

Sure. I built a little wooden house which is attached to the back. You will notice the tarp covering more and more in each picture. My ducks are only in it at night.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

I would hands down avoid pekins, I love mine but its one thing after another, bumble, leg issues etc. I would stick to runners or Khaki Cambells, would absolutely not have drakes, albeit mine has been a pretty good guy, I would just avoid that situation, but I have no interest in breeding, if I need more, ill buy more, besides, like so many of my other interests, these things tend to find you.