new to ducks

[Knuckle66]

Should I get a drake? I was going to try and get some Welsh Harlequin ducks. However I cannot find them in my area which mean mail order, which means more money than I'm willing to spend.

So on March 10th at my local Farmers Coop I'm going to bring home 2 Khaki Campbell hens along with 4 Rocks and 2 Australorps.

But should I get a drake? Do I really need one? I don't know if I'll ever plan raising any to hatch.

I'll have more questions about ducks, but let's start here first.

 

[Pyxis]

You don't need a drake unless you plan to hatch eggs Otherwise, there's no need to have one.

 

[MillersFarm]

Drakes can be quite a handful for some people, I would suggest not getting a drake if you're just starting out.. And the best recommended ratio for ducks is 4 for 1 drake so you wont have any over-breeding problems when the time comes. There are plenty of online hatcheries that sell sexed ducklings. So far Ideal Poultry is the cheapest/
http://www.idealpoultry.com/assortment.html

https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productlist.a5w?subcat=1021&cat=1045

https://www.purelypoultry.com/ducklings-c-256_234.html

http://www.metzerfarms.com/DucksForSale.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=18096195

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/duckling.html

https://www.cacklehatchery.com/water-fowl/ducks.html

 

[chickens really]

Hello..I would just start off with Hens. You can always get a Drake at a later date. Always Drakes looking for new homes. Best wishes

 

[Knuckle66]

Drakes can be quite a handful for some people, I would suggest not getting a drake if you're just starting out.. And the best recommended ratio for ducks is 4 for 1 drake so you wont have any over-breeding problems when the time comes. There are plenty of online hatcheries that sell sexed ducklings. So far Ideal Poultry is the cheapest/
http://www.idealpoultry.com/assortment.html

https://www.meyerhatchery.com/productlist.a5w?subcat=1021&cat=1045

https://www.purelypoultry.com/ducklings-c-256_234.html

http://www.metzerfarms.com/DucksForSale.cfm?affiliate=undef&CustID=18096195

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/duckling.html

https://www.cacklehatchery.com/water-fowl/ducks.html

It sucks that Ideal doesn't have WH. However they are a lot cheaper than the rest that's for sure.

 

[Knuckle66]

hmm Ideal isn't can't ship anything until the 4/4/18 either. Oh well Farmers Coop still seems the best choice right now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

With such temp extremes I think waiting till 4-4 is a good idea a lot less deaths that way.

 

[Knuckle66]

With my last flock last year, they lived inside until they had feathers under a heat lamp. then I moved them out into the coop, but I kept the ramp up until I felt they were more acclimated to the weather.
If I get them (chickens and ducks) in mid March, they will be ready to go to the coop in May.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am talking about shipping them in extreme temps one year so many lost their poultry they ordered because of the frigid temps in late winter. I ordered last May and of course we got a cold snap as they shipped I was so worried about those 5 lil chicks Riding in the back of a USPS long truck.