Mixing duck breeds

[caz426]

Have a quick question... I have a year old Pekin who lost his mate over the winter. I am looking to get 2 female ducklings this spring . My question is do I have to get Pekins.. or will can he pair up with a different breed, if so what kind. We are not looking to breed ducks, we can't even eat the eggs because my husband is allergic to them. I just want to give his some girls so that he's not lonely and he quits trying to get out of his pen to chase the hens.

Thanks!
Christina

 

[Miss Lydia]

Have a quick question... I have a year old Pekin who lost his mate over the winter. I am looking to get 2 female ducklings this spring . My question is do I have to get Pekins.. or will can he pair up with a different breed, if so what kind. We are not looking to breed ducks, we can't even eat the eggs because my husband is allergic to them. I just want to give his some girls so that he's not lonely and he quits trying to get out of his pen to chase the hens.

Thanks!
Christina

Sorry for the loss of your duck, yes of course he can have a different breed of duck for a friend, just try to get one of the larger breeds, since Pekins are a heavy breed they can injure smaller breed of ducks when mating. Rouen, Muscovy ,Appleyards to name a few that could handle a drake his size. Non of the bantams or Runners though. My Muscovy drakes are probably 10-12 lbs,. their Muscovy ducks are 5-6 lbs. just to give you size difference.

 

[Megan Amber]

Nope it does not have to be the same breed! Any will work however I would make sure that she is of the same size as him as to not hurt her during breeding!

 

[Quack Addict]

If he is anything like our Pekin drake ANY duck will do. Heck, with our drake I get concerned for the rabbits, turtles, buzzards and anything else not fast enough to get out of his way!

I agree with Amber, make sure to get large breed ducks so they don't get hurt.

 

[caz426]

Thank you so much!! I wouldn't mind getting more Pekins, but I would like the opportunity have other breeds too! Will make sure it's a larger breed, he's going to be lonely for a while as the little ones grow. Any idea what age they'd be ok being introduced to the drake. I was guessing about 4-6 months.

Luckily I have a buff orphington that is great friends with the drake and he doesn't seem to want to try to breed her... they were raised together. The drake mainly goes after a hen we added later. The buff orhpington spends part if the day in the duck pen with him.

 

[Megan Amber]

That's cute with the buff orpington thing!! I would say you're right to wait about 4 months before introducing.

 

[Going Quackers]

You know when i intro non mama ducklings i try to keep them penned around where the other ducks are so they can 'meet' it takes times, as starters it will be a bit before i'd trust a full grown drake with no mama present.

I think my last trio who were bought not hatched were let loose among the flock about 3mths? To be perfectly honest, the ducks were more trouble than the drakes, they seem to have quite the dynamics here

 

[bigtrout]

I keep Pekins, Khaki Cambells and Welshes as egg layers and of course my first ducks, the Pekins were mostly drakes(this is how I got into ducks...adding girls to keep everyone happy...lol) I have never had any trouble with them, even when they take a shine to the khaki gals, they are simply more maneuverable in and out of the water so they can get away when they choose. That being said, I would get him at least 2, preferably 3 lady friends and and breed campbell size or better should be ok, which leaves you with just about any breeds u want except calls, runners or mallards.