Meet my four ducks!

[jtn42248]

Woo! Thought I would have to change his name to Royalina!

I am a bit worried about the two drakes now. I am so scared they will kill one of the hens!
I am such a worrier and adore them all.

If you can at all manage it you might consider getting additional females. My small adult flock is two drakes and 3 females and I have to watch them to make sure that don't go overboard with the females. Come spring and breeding season that might not be possible and I may have to re-home at least one of the drakes.

 

[Jessica89]

If you can at all manage it you might consider getting additional females. My small adult flock is two drakes and 3 females and I have to watch them to make sure that don't go overboard with the females. Come spring and breeding season that might not be possible and I may have to re-home at least one of the drakes.

Thank you for the reply!
I have room for 1 or 2 more females so that's possible!
It's such a shame the drakes are like this.. why can't they be gentleman! haha

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you for the reply!
I have room for 1 or 2 more females so that's possible!
It's such a shame the drakes are like this.. why can't they be gentleman! haha

For gentleman waterfowl you need to get geese. The bond with their mate and are a good deal more gentle in love making.

 

[veronicasmom]

I did not see if anyone answered the layer pellet question. So, sorry if this is duplicated. I would not feed the drakes layer pellets. Just get a good quality all purpose pellet and supplement with oyster shells for calcium for the hens. The drakes will not be interested in it and the hens will eat it as they need it. The layer pellets have too much calcium for drakes and it can present a problem for them.

Also, hope you can work things out with your flock. Keep a close eye on the boys, as they mature the competition for the females will increase and the overmating can really hurt your girls. Plus, they may start fighting. Not always, but it is a possibility and it will become dangerous for one or both. Is there anyway you get a few more girls and make two flocks that you can keep separated? A lot more work, I realize, but for safety's sake, giving each boy two girls and keeping them apart might be safest for all involved.

Good luck, they are gorgeous ducks!

 

[Jessica89]

I did not see if anyone answered the layer pellet question. So, sorry if this is duplicated. I would not feed the drakes layer pellets. Just get a good quality all purpose pellet and supplement with oyster shells for calcium for the hens. The drakes will not be interested in it and the hens will eat it as they need it. The layer pellets have too much calcium for drakes and it can present a problem for them.

Also, hope you can work things out with your flock. Keep a close eye on the boys, as they mature the competition for the females will increase and the overmating can really hurt your girls. Plus, they may start fighting. Not always, but it is a possibility and it will become dangerous for one or both. Is there anyway you get a few more girls and make two flocks that you can keep separated? A lot more work, I realize, but for safety's sake, giving each boy two girls and keeping them apart might be safest for all involved.

Good luck, they are gorgeous ducks!

Thank you for your reply! Oh really? I am feeding them all on layer pellets at the moment. Do you recommend a particular brand I could use instead?
I could fit in an extra female or two but wont be able to seperate the flock until spring time when we will build another enclosure!
I am hoping for the best and hope they don't get aggressive and hurt each other. * touch wood*

 

[donkeydew2farms]

jessica89 your drake is so pretty. the two brown ones are kaki campbells both drakes. I fear that I will have to rehome one of them soon.

 

[Jessica89]

jessica89 your drake is so pretty. the two brown ones are kaki campbells both drakes. I fear that I will have to rehome one of them soon.

I'm so scared of that too. Fingers crossed you won't have to!

 

[veronicasmom]

I use Blue Seal Multi Flock, adding some cracked corn during the coldest part of the winter. In winter, I also feed chopped veggies because there is no free ranging here. And of course, the requisite peas as a treat. And as I said before, I use additional calcium for the girls during laying season.. It seems to be working fine for us for quite a few years.

Hopefully, because you are out of mating season, your boys and girls will be able to coexist peacefully during the winter. It is just in the spring as the hormones start to rage that it gets kind of nasty. My normally sweet drake is a maniac in the spring. He, however, has nine girls to choose from, so he is more exhausted than they are!!