Larkwell Valley (2023)

[JacinLarkwell]

White is so... common! lol!

I know. I don't like it on most birds, but ducks look so nice white

 

[JacinLarkwell]

@WVduckchick , what is your male to female ratio? Little makes me think they're not as aggressive breeding, but on the other hand, they're ducks, so I'm not sure what I should aim for, other than obviously one male and the rest females when it comes to hoping about unsexed ducklings

 

[WVduckchick]

@WVduckchick , what is your male to female ratio? Little makes me think they're not as aggressive breeding, but on the other hand, they're ducks, so I'm not sure what I should aim for, other than obviously one male and the rest females when it comes to hoping about unsexed ducklings

Unfortunately, I’ve always had a larger than preferred drake population. My luck, I suppose. Last summer’s hatches by my girls did produce a few more females than males, for a change, but I always seem to carry more males than I’d like. I have 39 total right now, and if I remember right, only 24 are female, 15 males. With that many, they tend to group up, 1 female with 2 males, or 2 females with 1 or 2 males, or natural trios too. Sometimes I’ll have a group of bachelor drakes that just hang out by themselves. Of course the problems come when one female starts sitting, then her boys tend chase the other girls too much. Those couple of months are the worst! If I notice a female or two being targeted too much, I can put them into a chicken pen, or house them alone for a while, till the boys calm down. Obviously the more females you can get is best, but a few extra males can be managed.
A couple years ago, I gave away 21 drakes at one time, got me down to closer to 2:1 ratio I think. But getting rid of drakes is tough. So with straight run ducklings or even hatching, we just hope for the best!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Unfortunately, I’ve always had a larger than preferred drake population. My luck, I suppose. Last summer’s hatches by my girls did produce a few more females than males, for a change, but I always seem to carry more males than I’d like. I have 39 total right now, and if I remember right, only 24 are female, 15 males. With that many, they tend to group up, 1 female with 2 males, or 2 females with 1 or 2 males, or natural trios too. Sometimes I’ll have a group of bachelor drakes that just hang out by themselves. Of course the problems come when one female starts sitting, then her boys tend chase the other girls too much. Those couple of months are the worst! If I notice a female or two being targeted too much, I can put them into a chicken pen, or house them alone for a while, till the boys calm down. Obviously the more females you can get is best, but a few extra males can be managed.
A couple years ago, I gave away 21 drakes at one time, got me down to closer to 2:1 ratio I think. But getting rid of drakes is tough. So with straight run ducklings or even hatching, we just hope for the best!

So if I end up with only 2 girls, it might be okay to put then with a male and just have a trio? Obviously the more the better, but I would hope my odds are that I get at least 2 if I order 6+

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've been wrong before (far more than I'd like, honestly) but where I am, especially if I sold then at a loss or held onto them until an event, I think I'd be able to rehome male pairs if I absolutely needed to out of the first batch. They're small and quiet, they'd make ideal little pets for young 4Hers. I think most likely, I'd only let a clutch or two hatch, and then probably give any other broody Calls eggs from other pens if it came to it.

 

[WVduckchick]

Just saw this on FB, the screenshot they are referring to is from the ones that you are looking at.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just saw this on FB, the screenshot they are referring to is from the ones that you are looking at.
View attachment 3720009

Yeah. The price difference is why I was going to go for the assortment instead of specific colors. I think they can get away with the price easier because none of the other big hatcheries have calls.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

@WVduckchick , last question for now, I think. I was also planning to get a handful of runner ducklings, will call ducklings be too small to safely be packed with Runner ducklings?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just realized today that Knuckles has spurs. Silly girl stabbed me when I was checking her stumps over.