New to laying!

[BabyGotQuack]

haha, after Sprightly started quacking I was somewhat relieved Dougie was a girl too, since I didn't have to stress about ratios urgently! But I had hoped both would be boys!

And yeah! Plus there's always a ton of drakes that need homes, and since I want to rescue some, it's just something I wanna try someday!

Ratios are a pain!!! I’ve been struggling this spring with ratios and getting them fixed

Good for you! That’s awesome you wanna take in drakes. You’re right there’s a ton that need homes. I actually really like drakes but one of the biggest reasons I got into ducks was for the eggs so gotta have the hens for that!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Ratios are a pain!!! I’ve been struggling this spring with ratios and getting them fixed

Good for you! That’s awesome you wanna take in drakes. You’re right there’s a ton that need homes. I actually really like drakes but one of the biggest reasons I got into ducks was for the eggs so gotta have the hens for that!

I'm torn between having a drake with my girls once I get more hens, but I feel like it'd be better to keep boys and girls separate- unless I ever want to breed!

I wonder if it's possible to keep a call/other small breed drake with a group of larger hens?
Back when I had rabbits, I had a netherland dwarf buck and a lionhead doe, he was about half her size but they were madly in love

 

[BabyGotQuack]

I'm torn between having a drake with my girls once I get more hens, but I feel like it'd be better to keep boys and girls separate- unless I ever want to breed!

I wonder if it's possible to keep a call/other small breed drake with a group of larger hens?
Back when I had rabbits, I had a netherland dwarf buck and a lionhead doe, he was about half her size but they were madly in love

How come you feel like they need to be separate? As long as there isn’t any over mating they can live very happily together. And if you have 2 girls now, add a few more and only have 1 drake that should be more than enough girls for him that it shouldn’t cause issues.

Size doesn’t matter when you’re madly in love! I would think as long as the drake was the little one it would be ok. If I’m incorrect someone else chime in.

I want some calls sooooooo bad! My hold up is how loud they are, it doesn’t bug me one bit. I actually love hearing my ladies quack, I leave the screen door open in the mornings and just love it. But we do have one neighbor that’s close enough they can hear the ones we’ve got now when they decide they “need something” and they’re gonna quack until I follow orders so I’m sure my neighbors wouldn’t love extra loud calls. But ugh they’re so dang cute!

 

[Miss Lydia]

on the note of calcium gluconate! I've just found this, would this be suitable?
It says "AgriLabs Calcium Gluconate 23% Solution is a fast acting aid in the treatment of milk fever in cattle.Contains 23 gms calcium gluconateper 100 ml. Dosage: 250-500 ml IV. Size: 500 Ml"

That's it! we just use 1ml.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Souns like my tiny OEGB rooster he loves the big hens they keep him warm in winter and he gets to ride on their backs he can't mate with them he's too tiny but it is so funny to see him standing on their backs. I say Riden em cowboy

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Souns like my tiny OEGB rooster he loves the big hens they keep him warm in winter and he gets to ride on their backs he can't mate with them he's too tiny but it is so funny to see him standing on their backs. I say Riden em cowboy

I literally laughed out loud at ride em cowboy

 

[BelovedBirds]

How come you feel like they need to be separate? As long as there isn’t any over mating they can live very happily together. And if you have 2 girls now, add a few more and only have 1 drake that should be more than enough girls for him that it shouldn’t cause issues.

Size doesn’t matter when you’re madly in love! I would think as long as the drake was the little one it would be ok. If I’m incorrect someone else chime in.

I want some calls sooooooo bad! My hold up is how loud they are, it doesn’t bug me one bit. I actually love hearing my ladies quack, I leave the screen door open in the mornings and just love it. But we do have one neighbor that’s close enough they can hear the ones we’ve got now when they decide they “need something” and they’re gonna quack until I follow orders so I’m sure my neighbors wouldn’t love extra loud calls. But ugh they’re so dang cute!

that's my problem too! Noise! That's why I think just the one little drake would be alright! Wouldn't be so loud. I'd love seeing a little drake running with my girls
And yes I love my ducks chattering too!
They do what I call a "laugh" when they get super excited, it's loud and chatty and I just love it!
The rest of the time they're quiet, they only properly quack if they're mad at me for not getting food fast enough etc.

My dilema with a drake in my flock is purely just preference, and at least I wouldnt have to deal with the breeding- I imagine it would be easier on the girls this way. But I'm still open to the idea of a smaller breed drake, that won't be quite so heavy on their backs etc. Since I want a bachelor flock, it just makes sense to me to have most if not all the boys together and girls housed separate!

 

[BelovedBirds]

That's it! we just use 1ml.

awesome! I'll order some

 

[BabyGotQuack]

that's my problem too! Noise! That's why I think just the one little drake would be alright! Wouldn't be so loud. I'd love seeing a little drake running with my girls
And yes I love my ducks chattering too!
They do what I call a "laugh" when they get super excited, it's loud and chatty and I just love it!
The rest of the time they're quiet, they only properly quack if they're mad at me for not getting food fast enough etc.

My dilema with a drake in my flock is purely just preference, and at least I wouldnt have to deal with the breeding- I imagine it would be easier on the girls this way. But I'm still open to the idea of a smaller breed drake, that won't be quite so heavy on their backs etc. Since I want a bachelor flock, it just makes sense to me to have most if not all the boys together and girls housed separate!

I’m sure a little drake with some big ladies would be quite the sight to see! Does @Miss Lydia have a picture of the little cowboy riding??

They’re so demanding when it comes to food and treats!

To each their own! I was just curious. I don’t have a way to have 2 separate flocks so I’ve got to deal with the ratio dilemma but we’re getting there! But for real kudos to you and a bachelor flock! I think that’s great!

 

[BelovedBirds]

Souns like my tiny OEGB rooster he loves the big hens they keep him warm in winter and he gets to ride on their backs he can't mate with them he's too tiny but it is so funny to see him standing on their backs. I say Riden em cowboy

that's hilarious
I totally want a call drake once I get a couple more hens next year now (hopefully sooner, but we'll see)
I wouldn't have thought they'd manage to mate, and during attempts it wouldnt be such weight on their backs!