Please talk to us about drakes again. Pros? Cons?

[Highlander]

I have 3 drakes and 5 hens which I know is not an ideal ratio. I am in the process of trying to rehome one of the drakes but so far I have had no issues with them at all. They all get along, they hang out all day together and the hens seem happy and are laying well. None of the drakes has ever shown the slightest bit of agression towards the girls, the chickens or me.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have 3 drakes and 5 hens which I know is not an ideal ratio. I am in the process of trying to rehome one of the drakes but so far I have had no issues with them at all. They all get along, they hang out all day together and the hens seem happy and are laying well. None of the drakes has ever shown the slightest bit of agression towards the girls, the chickens or me.

You have my ratio! I have problems with my younger drakes bullying my older drake.. and the younger boys are a touch rough with the girls nothing OTT but still... i think the main point here is everyone experiences vary and that is why it's important to share all them both the good and the bad.. definitely helps in making a well rounded decision.

 

[jdywntr]

When I had runners and too many drakes, 2 of my drakes basically cornered another who was lower on the totem pole. They must have chased him and he got stuck between the gas grill and a concrete wall. When I found them they were attacking his head and neck. I chased them off, moved the grill and he collapsed, he died within 10 minutes. I dug a hole in the corner of the yard and then went to got his body, one of the ducks attacked his body as I was putting him in the hole!
Now I did have to many drakes 4:3 but this particular one didn't bother anyone even the girls.

I got muscovy and again ended up with a bad ratio 4:1 added a rescue muscovy cross that also ended up male. So 5:1. When the boys started showing breeding behavior, 1 in particular would make a bee line to my plymouth rock hen. He wouldn't even stop trying to breed her until I grabbed him by the neck and tossed him off of her. (sounds more brutal than it was, he was not injured).
A few days later, 4 drakes went to freezer camp. And they were delicious. This was my plan to begin with though. Mine are not pets though.

 

[Amiga]

jdywntr, I know that there are different reasons for raising ducks, and in our current time and place, they are layers, pets, pest managers, fertilizer producers. We are not geared up for processing ducks for meat, so killing nasty drakes would be a challenge.

@all

Thanks for reaffirming that I need to be ready to really change things up if we bring in drakes. It's not out of the question for the longer term, but right now I have my hands full with other projects, and the ducks are a pretty happy group right now.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

I have 3 drakes, and 7 hens. Then 2 baby ducks in the brooder (sexes unknown) I have a rouen drake, a welsh harlequin drake, and a ancona drake. The welsh harlequin is by far my favorite. I hate picking favorites, but hes the best! I seperated all the ducks for breeding a few weeks ago, and the ancona drake seems to like to jump out to get the the welsh pen, the welsh drake had NONE of that. Would not let anything near his ladies. Very protective! Very good boy. The ancona drake is kinda a spaze though. And tried to attack me yesterday