Should I get Drake?

[Crazy4Fowl]

We are getting golden 300 ducks in february. We order 10 from efowl.com. 8 are mixed/random gender. 2 are sexed females. We were going to sell the 8 mixed ducks, but are wondering should we keep a drake so we can get ducklings. We want to watch them because they are cute watch them hatch and then sell them at some point. Thats why we want a drake. But would a drake be mean to the 2 hens or does it just matter on the duck its self.

Thanks Crazy4Fowl

 

[AnconaDuckFarm]

I would raise all of them, pick out the females and keep one drake. The drake/ duck ratio is 1 drake to 5-6 hens. It is fun to hatch ducklings and I think everyone should have the experience

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

I would raise all of them, pick out the females and keep one drake. The drake/ duck ratio is 1 drake to 5-6 hens. It is fun to hatch ducklings and I think everyone should have the experience

Ok thanks so much! So you think I should keep all the hens and 1 drake?

 

[AnconaDuckFarm]

Your welcome and yes.

 

[Crazy4Fowl]

Your welcome and yes.

Ok. Will the drake be mean to the hens? We have 8 chickens and only plan on keeping 2 hens so will one drake to 2 hens be bad

 

[EggsnQuackers]

For our breeders we have 1 drake and 2-3 hens but, we have Silver Appleyards...as a larger breed the drake has a hard time keeping up with more than 2-3 hens. You should be fine with a drake and only 2 hens but, keep an eye on them and if the hens are looking picked on then separate the drake for a while. After mating you can expect a hen to lay fertile eggs for 2-3 weeks.
Once our drakes turn a year old their sex drive drops off and they are really only interested in mating in the late winter/spring.
Our ducks don't bother our chickens at all, thought it is not unheard of. The ducks all hang out together and the chickens all hang out together. They share a coop and a run and we haven't had any problems. Again, you'll just have to keep an eye on things.