Should I get more female ducklings now?

[SeaSea47]

I have six ducks, and they’re about 12.5 weeks old. They’ve finally have their voices, and I can verify that there are three drakes and two are hens. One doesn’t seem to go either way just yet.

I know the ratio is bad, but I’ve decided to get more (8-10?) female ducklings to eventually add to the group to even things out. My question is: Should I get them ASAP or can I wait a month or so? Someone told me they wouldn’t start mating until late winter or early spring so as long as I have everyone together and of age by then it should be fine? I just thought I’d double check. I’ve got 21 chicks coming next week (that will ultimately be living with the ducks) and I didn’t want to take on ducklings again at the same time, plus I’m currently building a large run for the whole flock.

Right now, they all get along well. The girls are actually more aggressive than the boys. The only time they really squabble is when they are all in their pool, but they’re getting a bigger one shortly. And those are just little pecks.

 

[3xhhheather]

I would still rehome at least one drake, but if you're able to keep any problem children separate I wouldn't rush to get them until you're at a comfortable spot. I will say that my drake started causing problems around 4months old, he picked his favorites, and then the overmating began...in the middle of winter.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I know everyone calls it “over-mating” and while that is true to an extent, more females doesn’t always fix things. Drakes are basically hormonal jerks to most of hens (and chicken hens) even though they are the ones who steal our hearts. Best advice I can give you, which you won’t like and didn’t ask for, is re-home two drakes ASAP. The longer you wait, the more they will decide who gets which girl. They have long memories and can make a girl suffer for choosing another male. At least that is what mine did and still do.
As for when to get the new ducklings it depends on your circumstances. You are going to have to keep them separate until the young ones are of reproductive age (4 months) or risk injury. I expect your drakes will start trying to mate in just a few weeks.

 

[fatty and friends]

i have two drakes with just each other and they are best friends, they also get along with my third drake when he wants to hang out with them. then the third drake spends most of his time with his two hens, i have NEVER had an issue with him. getting more hens should work for you, as long as they have a large space. every drake is different, everyone i know who has multiple drakes with hens says they do perfectly fine

 

[HollowOfWisps]

It really depends. Are you attached to the drakes? If so you could keep a separate coop for them. If not you could re-home 1-2. 8-10 more females I don't think would be enough for 3 drakes. Drakes normally mate in packs which basically means when one starts mating a hen they often will all line up to take their shot. I don't allow more than two adult drakes to be with my hens at a time and even then I keep my drakes separated for most of the year.

 

[MerryMeridional]

I will be slaughtering a male soon because 2 drakes to 6 hens is not even close to good enough. I've tried to rehome for the last 6mo with no success. They have been separated in daytime drake jail for some time now. I really need about 8 hens. The welsh harlequin drakes are insantiable and have really damaged the heads of the hens in my flock. They target my little black ducks (4 of them) and practically ignore the 2 WH hens.

 

[Quatie]

I agree with what everyone says. Each drake is different. I would keep the drake who is the lowest on the pecking order. I got lucky and got a male who was a gentleman. Unfortunately, we took in a rescue female duckling and got her a friend ( a male). We thought that we be ok. We had 13 females. Unfortunately he grew into a jerk, stressed my old male cause he took all the females except 1. We got rid of that jerk. Now my old male is no longer the gentleman he once was, and some days we consider putting him on the chopping block. The point is males can learn bad habits.

 

[SeaSea47]

Thanks everyone. I am so disappointed to hear this because I am attached to them and they are all so sweet and attached to each other right now. I’m really thinking about building a separate place for just the boys to live on the other side of the yard and letting the girls and my chickens take over the area where they live now. My “coop” is actually a 10x20 barn, so I could separate one end for the boys and build them a little run on that side.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Assuming no luck rehoming (and I wouldn't expect any), I would cull for the table your two smallest drakes. Plan on bringing on more ducks as soon as you can, and as they are likely straight run, plan on culling all the males as soon as they can be identified and are worth processing - unless your largest drake from the first batch proves to be an @$$ - in which case, cull him and take your chances with one of the new boys.

While I've never had my drakes try to mount any of my chickens (though I've heard it happens), having three hens to one adult drake was very hard on the girls. I hatched more, and have been selectively culling for a better ratio. Right now its one male, four females, four adolescents (of which, one is almost certainly male and soon to be culled - his brother was culled on Tuesday, and will grace the table tonight).

 

[SeaSea47]

No culling here. I’d rather give them their own place. I just hope I can figure out what the sixth one is. It looks more like the the girls but doesn’t make any noise really at all. My smallest girl is actually the “meanest” of the group. If the boys are crowding the pool, she’ll get in and chase them out.

If I do build them their own run, can they be side by side or will seeing the ladies be too tempting?