Possible Overmating... Course of Action

[acceabex]

Hi All,

I've been reading quite a bit about overmating and want to see if this seems reasonable...

Here's the landscape of the flock (ducks and geese mixed, though we'll leave the geese out of this one);

I have 3 boys and 4 girls currently. We're getting 5 more girls this year (to bring it to 3 boys and 9 girls), but they are still in the egg... at the hatchery.

My flock was super calm, but last week we had a goose die. The goose board really helped brainstorm through that. I only mention it because it seems to have really upset the status quo.

Since then, I noticed one of my girls (Jasmine) was looking a little rough around the edges and missing feathers under her wing. I thought maybe stress, but it was worming time, so we are worming with SafeGuard (0.23ml/lb for 5 days, then off for 10 and back on for another 5. We are currently on day 4). Then I noticed another girl also looking a little rough missing feathers under her wing. No injury, just missing feathers.

Sweet naive me, I thought maybe a super early molt since they sleep in the garage? (Cute right?)

It wasn't until I walked outside this morning and saw the ducks mating that it occurred to me, they are overmating two girls and leaving the other two completely alone.

No one *seems* to mind insofar as they haven't told me about it, but I don't want the girls hurt or stressed. While they are acting alright, I sense from reading threads that we are on our way to "stressed".

So I divided the run down the middle. Boys on one side, girls on the other. I'm a bit worried the drakes may fight, but food showed up and they seemed fine.

To manage this situation, I'd like to keep them in the divided run at night, but let them out together during the day. Of course, once the ducklings grow, they'll be added to the flock and balance out the male/female ratio.

Does this seem like a reasonable solution? Could I be doing something better or differently to ensure safety?

Thanks in advance, sorry for the long thread!

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I would say you have to many drajes I have one with three hens and he gets the job done. I put 9 eggs in the incubator 8 out of nine developed.would pick one Drake to go in or out with the girls and keep the other two in the Bachelor pad until your have enough hens to go around.

 

[MillersFarm]

Keep the Drakes separate from the hens, 9 hens for 3 drakes is still not enough. If you want to keep all 3 drakes i'd suggest getting 16 or get rid of 2 drakes. Another question, What do you feed your ducks?

 

[acceabex]

Keep the Drakes separate from the hens, 9 hens for 3 drakes is still not enough. If you want to keep all 3 drakes i'd suggest getting 16 or get rid of 2 drakes.

Thanks, I was wondering if 3 to 1 was enough. I appreciate the input. Space isn't an issue, but coyotes are... so looks like the run will need to be expanded.

Another question, What do you feed your ducks?

They mainly eat Mazuri Waterfowl. They also eat meal worms, earth worms, solider worms, peas, dirt, bits of hay as best I can tell, buggies they find, eggs which get to me off an on (cannibalism and all that), oyster shells if they want it, grass, greens (no spinach), grapes are a fav... I think one tried to eat a rock one time.

ETA, I've had bad luck with Flock Raiser so I prefer feeding this.

 

[MillersFarm]

Thanks, I was wondering if 3 to 1 was enough. I appreciate the input. Space isn't an issue, but coyotes are... so looks like the run will need to be expanded.



They mainly eat Mazuri Waterfowl. They also eat meal worms, earth worms, solider worms, peas, dirt, bits of hay as best I can tell, buggies they find, eggs which get to me off an on (cannibalism and all that), oyster shells if they want it, grass, greens (no spinach), grapes are a fav... I think one tried to eat a rock one time.

ETA, I've had bad luck with Flock Raiser so I prefer feeding this.

I would suggest feeding your ducks Finisher/Grower.. with some oyster shells available for them. That's a pretty good Diet and works pretty well with all of my ducks.

 

[acceabex]

I would suggest feeding your ducks Finisher/Grower.. with some oyster shells available for them. That's a pretty good Diet and works pretty well with all of my ducks.

Thanks! I have a background in nutrition, I'm actually really comfortable with the Mazuri feed and the research behind the formula.

 

[chickens really]

Hello..Yes, you have too many Drakes. The problem with locking them separately at night will only have them pouncing on the Hens as soon as they can be back with them again. Drakes are hormones with legs. Randy little Devils.
Get rid of two or have two pens after you get the 9 Hens to keep things balanced. I have two Drakes and two pens. They each have their own Hens.

 

[acceabex]

12 hens total would be 4 girls to a boy. I currently have 4 girls, so I need about 8 more... Is there a reason to have an extra girl? Thinking if one died maybe?

As I'm thinking, is there any reason not to have more girls? Maybe 5 girls to a boy etc.

We have anconas and Welsh harlequins, I'm planning on adding lavender ancona girls and a few welsh harlequins... Now just working out the number.

 

[chickens really]

That will work. Just separate them all.

 

[sourland]

Mazuri water fowl is about as good as it gets. As you have already noted, drakes pick the easy girls; therefore, adding more hens does not always solve the problem. Once drakes start gang/competitive mating it is a difficult habit to break.