One Pekin Duck

[KYLDY]

any advise on keeping just my female Pekin Duck? Husband wants chickens and I managed to get two Drakes and one Duck when I got the babies from TSC. I thought about just keeping the Duck and letting her run with the chickens.

 

[goldiethehen]

We have a drake duck with our 10 hens. He does a good job with them, keeps them out of trouble, but it sounds like this is a rare occurrence as drakes usually aren't that nice to hens. Are you planning to get rid of your drakes or keep them? I think if you raised this little duckling (it is a duckling, right?) with the chicks or close to them (in the same room, so they can see each other), by the time they were older you could house them together. You should know, however, that the duck wastes practically all our food (he likes to dump it in the water, and eat it there, but the hens don't like food water, so I have to dump it out, refill, vicious cycle

) haha, but he's so fun to watch!! Be happy to answer any more questions. Hope this helped.
Iris

 

[hamnermitch]

I have two ducklings that I just bought about three weeks ago. I'm not sure if they're male or female. We saw them at TSC and the kids wanted them and I couldn't say no! These two ducks are the messiest creatures I've ever seen. They made such a huge mess in the brooder that I finally gave up and just put them out with my chickens. I have nine Australorps that are 16 weeks old, all pullets. The chickens didn't care much for the ducks at first but are becoming more accustomed to them. They didn't pick on the ducks, they just stayed away from them. I have to be honest though... I'm wishing I'd never gotten them. They make a huge mess. I always change my chickens water everyday, but with the ducks I have to. They get dirt and mud all in the waterers and make it completely nasty. They are just a pain to deal with. If I had to do it all over again, I'd wait till I had a separate pen for the ducks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have two ducklings that I just bought about three weeks ago. I'm not sure if they're male or female. We saw them at TSC and the kids wanted them and I couldn't say no! These two ducks are the messiest creatures I've ever seen. They made such a huge mess in the brooder that I finally gave up and just put them out with my chickens. I have nine Australorps that are 16 weeks old, all pullets. The chickens didn't care much for the ducks at first but are becoming more accustomed to them. They didn't pick on the ducks, they just stayed away from them. I have to be honest though... I'm wishing I'd never gotten them. They make a huge mess. I always change my chickens water everyday, but with the ducks I have to. They get dirt and mud all in the waterers and make it completely nasty. They are just a pain to deal with. If I had to do it all over again, I'd wait till I had a separate pen for the ducks.

That's what happens alot, people see the cute fluff balls and have no idea how messy they are and aren't prepared to deal with it.

I hope the love you have for them outweighs all the extra work and that you'll give them their own pen and house, my flock are all together during daylight hours running on half acre fenced in but at night everyone has their own house.

 

[Julez21]

I got two Pekin ducklings a week ago....I'm just so in awe!! They are quite messy, but they are just so social and outgoing, yet passive to the pullets that are in the brooder with them. I have 4 Rhode Islands, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 1 Leghorn in the coop outside. These will join them in a few months. :O) I am curious as to when the Mallards come into my yard to sneak a swim in my pool, will they bother my ducks? I haven't had ducks since I was small, so this is a lot of remembering for me!! lol

 

[Going Quackers]

I personally wouldn't keep a single duck, they need a duck friend just like chickens there a flock animals and appreciate another of their own kind...

 

[Going Quackers]

I got two Pekin ducklings a week ago....I'm just so in awe!! They are quite messy, but they are just so social and outgoing, yet passive to the pullets that are in the brooder with them. I have 4 Rhode Islands, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 1 Leghorn in the coop outside. These will join them in a few months. :O) I am curious as to when the Mallards come into my yard to sneak a swim in my pool, will they bother my ducks? I haven't had ducks since I was small, so this is a lot of remembering for me!! lol

Hard to say, i admit to having no wild ducks here other than flying by, it would be something that would likely be a wait n see sorta thing.

 

[hamnermitch]

Oh yes, we will definitely be kind to them and treat them well. I just probably wouldn't ever buy any ducks again.