Mallard mating question...

[azure_]

so all girls with just one drake

Ok, but don't Mallards make seasonal bonds?

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Ok, but don't Mallards make seasonal bonds?

no. the boys will get aggressive if they have competition and be mean to the girls. they’ll want to have all the girls, and fight

 

[azure_]

no. the boys will get aggressive if they have competition and be mean to the girls. they’ll want to have all the girls, and fight

Ok

 

[HollowOfWisps]

From everything I've seen it is a Drake by Drake case because simply put, ducks all have their own personalities. I have a Runner Drake who is horny 24/7, likes to pick fights and acts like a highschool bully. I have a Hookbill Drake who isn't nearly as bad, but likes to follow my Runner Drake around and act as his evil henchman. Then my other Hookbill and Rouen Drake are very (and I mean very) chill. I've never seen those two fight unless my Runner Drake and his trusty sidekick come over to start something. I currently have 3 hens per Drake, but that wasn't planned as I took in some ducklings for someone who couldn't afford to care for them anymore and ended up with 2 Drake's from the group. The new guys are starting to get old enough they are probably headed for the freezer simply because I prefer to have at least 5-6 hens per Drake. I have never had any issues with a 5-6 hen to 1 Drake ratio as long as the Drake's aren't nutty ones (once you've been around ducks for a bit you will know what I'm talking about when it comes to nutty vs. chill Drake's). I'm down to only 1 Mallard hen currently, but with Domesticated Mallards I have found that they don't seem to exibit the same natural tendencies as wild ones simply because they are domesticated and have been for awhile now. If I were you I would start with 1 Drake and 4-5 hens and see how that goes once they hit maturity. You can always add to your flock after that or you may find that you like your small flock as is.

 

[azure_]

From everything I've seen it is a Drake by Drake case because simply put, ducks all have their own personalities. I have a Runner Drake who is horny 24/7, likes to pick fights and acts like a highschool bully. I have a Hookbill Drake who isn't nearly as bad, but likes to follow my Runner Drake around and act as his evil henchman. Then my other Hookbill and Rouen Drake are very (and I mean very) chill. I've never seen those two fight unless my Runner Drake and his trusty sidekick come over to start something. I currently have 3 hens per Drake, but that wasn't planned as I took in some ducklings for someone who couldn't afford to care for them anymore and ended up with 2 Drake's from the group. The new guys are starting to get old enough they are probably headed for the freezer simply because I prefer to have at least 5-6 hens per Drake. I have never had any issues with a 5-6 hen to 1 Drake ratio as long as the Drake's aren't nutty ones (once you've been around ducks for a bit you will know what I'm talking about when it comes to nutty vs. chill Drake's). I'm down to only 1 Mallard hen currently, but with Domesticated Mallards I have found that they don't seem to exibit the same natural tendencies as wild ones simply because they are domesticated and have been for awhile now. If I were you I would start with 1 Drake and 4-5 hens and see how that goes once they hit maturity. You can always add to your flock after that or you may find that you like your small flock as is.

Ok! Thanks I think I'll do that!