Muscovy Ducks

[re5671]

Hi everyone, I have 3 male muscovys that have cohabitated for a year now. 2 are of the same age and my oldest is "Hank" he's about 4 yrs old. I just interduced 2 white females. Will my males get aggressive with each other now? I'm hoping for eggs but so far nothing, I'm not sure of the age of the girls. Any thoughts?

 

[Going Quackers]

You have 3 drakes and you only added 2 ducks? um, to be real honest that was not a good idea, i don't mean to be so blunt just... it's recommended AT LEAST 2-3 ducks per drake, let alone having 3. Yes, i know personalities do play a role, but you have turned up your heat and could lead to whole world of trouble.

I have 2 drakes and 8 ducks. That is increasing later this spring by two more ducks, i have 4 young 'scovies that just hatched almost 3wks ago and will keep any girls from that.

My boys do fight, they are different ages, as a matter of fact it's the younger one that is a bit of a pest. I keep the boys separated at night to lesson problems.

I hate sounding so negative but you've opened a real can of worms imo... resolving it would involved either sub flocks or adding more girls.. or keep the boys and girls separate. I wouldn't have 3 drakes around 2 ducks either, they could harm them in there fight for dominance over them too.

 

[re5671]

i really have no place to get more ducks. the 2 drakes were raised from birth together withthe older drake. everyone seems happy.

 

[jdywntr]

I agree 100% with GQ. Your males are likely to fight and they will overbreed the females. Overbreeding can result in less or no egg laying, injury or even death. It doesn't matter that the drakes were raised together. Aggression is based on hormones and females nearby will present a new problem. Introducing the females has changed the flock dynamic and aggression will result.

Sorry to say but you should either find more females, get rid of 2 males or at the very least seperate the 2 females with 1 drake and hope the other 2 don't start to fight.

 

[Going Quackers]

As Jdywntr says, it won't matter they were raised together, you have raised the steaks. My younger drake came in as a 2-3wk old... he's grown up around my older drake, makes not a single difference, these are duck dynamics not humans.

Heck my younger drake checks out chocolate ripple all the time, she's almost 1yo and from our hatch last year, um, he's her father lol but to him a duck is a duck is a duck.

If you cannot get more ducks, the idea of separating one drake off to be with the two ducks is a fantastic idea, that way you'll get eggs and likely babies if you wish to take that route.

 

[Rosie42892]

Please be careful. Adding some girls means adding a whole mess of hormones to drakes that never had a reason to be hormonal in the past, which is why no fighting ever occured. Please consider making room for some more ducks, splitting the group, or rehoming two of your drakes. Whatever you decide, all the best!

 

[re5671]

ok I just added 4 more Ducks! (all girls!)

Will this work? 6 girls to 3 boys? I still am looking to rehome that one male.

thanks for all the help!!


AnnaP

 

[romualdas]

3 trios would help a lot , but 2 hens start brooding , and you got 3 drakes and 4 hens . The advice is to start a trio is great , but keep other drakes separate . So 3 trios OK , but hen starts sitting and 2 drakes go to another pen. They are easy to heard.

 

[miquwid]

If I may ask a question as well, from what I am learning here, I wanted to get two females and one drake should I go for three females?

 

[Going Quackers]

ok I just added 4 more Ducks! (all girls!)

Will this work? 6 girls to 3 boys? I still am looking to rehome that one male.

thanks for all the help!!


AnnaP

Better, but it's still tricky. Your running many drakes with the lowest possible females ratio. Keep a very close eye, personality plays a role for sure but be prepared to have to separate as the other poster mentioned if some go broody that may leave a duck or two with 3 drakes wanting her affection which will not be the best idea.

I am one duck down myself right now, but that still leaves out 7 mature ducks for the two boys i have.