Pekin ducks mating for the first time

[Duckmom1980]

My 2 Pekin ducks are 17 weeks old and they were mating in the pond this morning for the first time. Does this mean my female has reached sexual maturity? I'm patiently waiting for eggs.

 

[PeanutnCashew]

Oh wow..I have no idea when they start but that seems early. I just found out I have one girl and one boy. I have not seen any attempts of mating at all. They are both approx 2 1/2 -3 months old.

 

[PeanutnCashew]

just looked it up: one source says " Generally domestic ducks start to lay around 21 to 26 weeks of age.

 

[Scott Barr]

Ours started the 'mating behavior' at the same point in time ... about 2 weeks ago. I have to look it up but i think that it takes about 28 days to start seeing eggs if they come at all. I have also been told that they will seldon tend for their eggs so if you want more baby ducks you will likely need an incubator or some kind.

 

[Amiga]

The hop on top starts weeks before they are sexually mature. I have read that it is best, if you want to hatch eggs, to wait a while and not try to incubate the first ones she lays.

Also, watch carefully because some drakes are (unspeakable word) and get so aggressive while mating they kill the females by drowning or suffocating or injuring their necks. If your drake seems like he is overdoing it, immediately separate him and look into getting another few females, or finding him another place.

 

[Scott Barr]

Thanks! So the question becomes, how agressive it too agressive? He is a bit rough with her but it is tough to say if she is being hurt. As they are about the same size she pops her head above the water when she has had enough and seems to be fine. Having one of each is about all I really want but I could get another female. This is in a residential neighborhood so they truly are pets and not a food source or egg source for anyone.

 

[Amiga]

How does the back of her neck look? After he is done, (is he doing the victory lap yet?) does she get up on her toes and flap her wings, or does she seem a bit less energetic? How does her vent look? Any blood? Does she limp, does she not seem to eat enough? Does she try to get away from the drake?

There are a number of couples who do fine. Just remember some drakes are so and so's . . .

 

[Scott Barr]

Sorry for just replying on this but today we did notice that se can see her skin on the back of her neck for the first time. Yes he takes his victory lap (swim) but so does she. They are inseperable day and night but the past two days the neck seems a bit more visibile.

I am assuming that the Drake is the one on top but clarification of that point would be good too. These two have been together since they were about 2 weeks old and seem perfectly content with one another with absolutely no agression except in the morning when the get out of their pen and head straingt for the pond for their morning frolick and neck biting. I have heard that getting a second female could be the answer but any feedback and ways to help the female would be appreciated.

 

[Amiga]

The boy is on top, most of the time. Ducks are uninhibited, seems to me, so there are all kinds of variations on the theme.

Ahem.

Anyway, it may be that he is so energetic that another couple of girl ducks would spread his attentions around. Even if she does not appear to be upset, it may be physically hard on her to be the only duck.

 

[Scott Barr]

Much appreciated ... is the mating season 24/7/365? Or will this stop at some point? That should give me about all the info I need! Thanks so much! Scott