Separating Drakes

[Darkwing4]

I'm trying to rehome two Ancona drakes (posted here and on Craigslist). The're young- about 3 months old, starting to become sexually active. I only have one duck and plan on keeping her with one other drake.

Would it be possible to move the drakes to another pen? Mostly out of site of the other two? I'm on an acre so it's not that big. But either pair would see the other when I let them free range. I'm concerned they'd end up getting aggressive.

I'm 99% opposed to sending them to the freezer but that pragmatic 1% still has a voice in my head. I'd hate to wait for one of them to get hurt to make a decision. Any suggestions would be welcome.

To recap, 4 Ancona ducks raised from 1 week old. Ended up with 3 drakes and a duck ( the worst situation!) 1 acre suburban property with shared marshy pond.

Options -
1. rehome drakes to loving family (I know you're out there!)
2. Separate 2 drakes to a bachelor pen with pool/ alternate free range with other pair
3. Freezer
4. Other brilliant solution I haven't thought of yet

 

[needlessjunk]

I would do #2 and also get another 2 females for your current pair. Over mating is very common when you only have 1:1 and a 3:1 is much better ratio so your girls don't get too beat up.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I'm trying to rehome two Ancona drakes (posted here and on Craigslist). The're young- about 3 months old, starting to become sexually active. I only have one duck and plan on keeping her with one other drake.

Would it be possible to move the drakes to another pen? Mostly out of site of the other two? I'm on an acre so it's not that big. But either pair would see the other when I let them free range. I'm concerned they'd end up getting aggressive.

I'm 99% opposed to sending them to the freezer but that pragmatic 1% still has a voice in my head. I'd hate to wait for one of them to get hurt to make a decision. Any suggestions would be welcome.

To recap, 4 Ancona ducks raised from 1 week old. Ended up with 3 drakes and a duck ( the worst situation!) 1 acre suburban property with shared marshy pond.

Options -
1. rehome drakes to loving family (I know you're out there!)
2. Separate 2 drakes to a bachelor pen with pool/ alternate free range with other pair
3. Freezer
4. Other brilliant solution I haven't thought of yet

Ditto to what @needlessjunk said if you want to keep them all, and take option 1 if you don't. Option 1 would be my first choice if it were easy to rehome drakes, but I've had good luck with that. Option 3 wouldn't be in my list, but I'll never put anyone down for it since that's what happens to some ducks and I don't pretend it doesn't.

 

[Darkwing4]

"Option 1 would be my first choice if it were easy to rehome drakes, but I've had good luck with that."

Is this correct? You HAVE had good luck? That's hopeful. I've gotten a response back from a Craigslist ad but the last email asked if I had ducklings ... So I sent her the info of the breeder I got my ducks from.

On a sad but sweet note, DH is upset at the thought of breaking up the band. They're all so happy together. I feel like I'm waiting for things to turn ugly.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

"Option 1 would be my first choice if it were easy to rehome drakes, but I've had good luck with that."

Is this correct? You HAVE had good luck? That's hopeful. I've gotten a response back from a Craigslist ad but the last email asked if I had ducklings ... So I sent her the info of the breeder I got my ducks from.

On a sad but sweet note, DH is upset at the thought of breaking up the band. They're all so happy together. I feel like I'm waiting for things to turn ugly.

Yes, I've had good luck with it. HAVE had, not haven't. I know it's odd, which is why I said, "if it were easy."

One thing didn't mention is that I hold onto my ducks until I'm satisfied with a potential owner, and many people aren't able to do that. My hubby kind of scolds me for that, but whatever. We've had many people who were fine with drakes as long as they got ducks with them, and we had one lady who wanted nothing but drakes because they were for a club pond where they didn't want babies.

Just about anything can happen if you have the luxury of waiting for it, but some don't. Some people get in a pinch and have to do things more quickly than they'd like.

 

[Darkwing4]

Thanks Jade, this is both helpful and hopeful. My goal is to rehome them by fall when they're 6 months and my duck should start laying eggs. I'll work on separating them this weekend. Put up a temporary pen.

I have an old shed that can be used as a coop but I don't want to invest a lot of extra money on something temporary. It needs a new floor, hardware wire, door. Then additional waterer, etc. But it would be good to have extra space. It was our original plan for housing the ducks. Lots to think about.