Jumbo pekin males

[sylviethecochin]

Drakes are hard on ducks. They're also gang-rapers. In my experience, you need at least two girls per boy so that the drakes don't rough the ducks up too much. I like a healthy ratio of 1:4 if I only have one male and 1:5 if I have more than one male.

Separate the drakes if you possibly can. They have big, cork-screwing penises and hens really are not meant to take that.

 

[jessiebrooke]

Thanks im trying to get my mom to see logic she wont give them away but she keeps going back and forth on getting females for them we have chicken pen wire that we could possibly set up to seperate the ducks and hens

 

[DucksOhio]

I guess if it were me, I’d look into either immediately separating the drakes from your hens, or getting female ducks PDQ.

I agree with Sylvie that too many drakes are not a good thing. Odd though it’s really not mating season, but I guess the drakes are desperate. And jumbo Pekins are pretty big birds.

You really should have as many females as possible to the males. I also agree with Sylvie on that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good idea, just make sure you can give them a secure place to sleep at night.

If you don't get females I strongly suggest separate pens.

 

[jessiebrooke]

They usually choose to sleep in tall grass rather than going into the coop around certain times during the night they walk around the yard but im not sure what they want

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes but how will you feel when one morning your ducks have vanished or have been slaughtered in your back yard ? I would never want to take that chance with mine and I have 12 ducks. You don't lock your chickens up either?

 

[jessiebrooke]

My dog is very protective over the chickens and ducks i do lock them up when they go into the pen i cant force them they are skittish and run from me ever since i got them so unless they dont go in themselves i cant force them into the pen theres been plenty of nights where everyone has tried to "herd" them into the pen they just choose to be outside. Theres not much I know to do though too. I'm new to raising ducks and our chickens always go into the coop the ducks pick and choose and they love playing in the rain when it rains at night its almost like they never sleep

 

[Ducktown]

If it was me, I'd buy 4 or 6 duck hens. Then, make sure you herd them into the coop each night until they start going inside more readily.

If given a chance, then I would certainly get some duck eggs and start incubating them. That way, the ducklings will imprint on you, your mom and other family members from the early beginning. They will not run away like your current drakes do and it should not be a problem teaching them to go into their house every night. When you get your ducks this way, other ducks will most likely follow.

Besides, such ducks will be much more socialized regarding coexistence with chickens as well. If chickens would harass and peck them, they could get aggressive towards them later on, if not, they would certainly live in harmony.

 

[jessiebrooke]

If it was me, I'd buy 4 or 6 duck hens. Then, make sure you herd them into the coop each night until they start going inside more readily.

If given a chance, then I would certainly get some duck eggs and start incubating them. That way, the ducklings will imprint on you, your mom and other family members from the early beginning. They will not run away like your current drakes do and it should not be a problem teaching them to go into their house every night. When you get your ducks this way, other ducks will most likely follow.

Besides, such ducks will be much more socialized regarding coexistence with chickens as well. If chickens would harass and peck them, they could get aggressive towards them later on, if not, they would certainly live in harmony.

I could try to incubate duck eggs but is there a sure way of getting females?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Well--not sure and certain. The last ducklings we ordered that were sexed both turned out to be mis-sexed.

You have two options: order sexed ducklings from a hatchery or find someone in your area with adult ducks. You can check craigslist, see if your local TSC has poultry swaps, check Facebook, see if you have any local livestock auctions, etc. Where are you? You could ask on your state thread and see if anyone has ducks.