Male duck mating with babies?

[carlyducks]

Hi, I have an 8 month old male duck who mates a lot with my female who is the same age.
However, I will be getting two female ducklings soon. They won't be living together right away of course, I will probably wait a month or so until their feathers start growing in like you're supposed to.

My question is, will the babies be too young for my male to mate them? Is there a certain age they are supposed to be before they can be with an adult male?
I will only be letting them have access to their kiddie pool when they free range and I am out there 24/7 when they do so.. So I'm not worried about drowning, as I will be right there to supervise.

I just want to know if it is okay for him to mate with 1-2 month old ducklings because I know he will try.. Thanks!

 

[HuskerHens18]

I'm going to watch your thread because I have the same question! I have been introducing my lone drake to 4 ducklings, each about 7 weeks old. He has never tried to mate them, but I've never left them alone. I've always stood there and it might just make him too uncomfortable to try.

 

[The Moonshiner]

No that is not ok.
1 to 2 months they're still babies.

 

[lazy gardener]

Males should be separated from females who are not yet at point of lay IMO.

 

[AngieMaesChix]

Males should be separated from females who are not yet at point of lay IMO.

Agreed

 

[sawilliams]

If you have a good male they will recognize babies from adults, but I'm sure with a limited flock like yours there is still potentially an issue. You could always take a wait and see approach but if he even looks like he might try to mate a young duck you need to seperate for sure

 

[CayugaJana]

I would say no. However....... I have a very laid back drake who is a gentleman unless I dare pick up one of his girls. He was ready to mate way before my girls. He would try and they let him know they were not interested. He didn’t force them but waited until they were older and laid down for him to hop on top. I don’t know how rare his behavior is though.

 

[HeatherD42]

My drake will mate any females. I had to keep him separated from my young ones. I think you are supposed to wait 4-5 months

 

[lazy gardener]

If you have a good male they will recognize babies from adults, but I'm sure with a limited flock like yours there is still potentially an issue. You could always take a wait and see approach but if he even looks like he might try to mate a young duck you need to seperate for sure

Agreed with SA, that a lot depends on the male's behavior. My roo would not breed the yet to lay pullets. BUT, IME, any cockerel will try to breed his female hatch mates long before they are ready. The drake in question is young, so the chances of him being a pedophile are high.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...All you can do is watch his behaviour and separate if he does try to breed them. Breeding season has hormones raging. My Call Drake breeds rubber boots, mud flap and my old Dog too....I free range Young only as I watch or lock up my Drake during their turn out..They won't be ready to be with the Drake till after the juvenile molt at around 4 months..