The Duck Thread

[MandyJ]

Drakes have no mercy on the hens. they will break you hens down and shorten their life span, cripple them and stress them out. It is cruel to put hens with that many drakes. They are non stop day and night. You only need one drake if you need one at all. Can you tell, that I do not like drakes ? ha,ha.

I agree! I don't have any drakes in my flock of 2! Ha Ha! I can't handle the killing! My niece had a few of hers killed by a drake, no thank you!

 

[MandyJ]

Well it's not like I want to put her with all the drakes! She doesn't hang out with the big pekin ones anyway she hangs out with the small khaki Campbell and 2 rouens. I didn't get to pick if I had males or females. I will get more females in spring but I'm not giving away any drakes they are my darlings

We all understand your feelings about them being "my darlings"! I think we all feel that way or we wouldn't put up with the mess of ducks! LOL Hang in there! Hope spring comes quick. Good luck!

 

[MandyJ]

Hi I have 2 hens and 8 drakes we should get more hens? I think it would be a bad idea to have that many males per 1 female what do you think? Last year they seemed fine... No breeding problems

By the way, welcome to BYC! This is a great place to find information/experiences. Just remember, you are doing GREAT!!!!

 

[jockeyeba]

Hi these were on my roof yesterday then left but came back, gone again, but this morning they were back on top of my chicken coops but gone again, I looked at all the pictures on this thread & don't see them-what are they???

Thanks

 

[Debs Flock]

Wow, sorry, I have no idea what kind of bird those are, but they're neat looking!

Here's some pics of my ducks enjoying new pools today since we got to 66 degrees.

 

[Ren2014]

Hi these were on my roof yesterday then left but came back, gone again, but this morning they were back on top of my chicken coops but gone again, I looked at all the pictures on this thread & don't see them-what are they???


Thanks

Wow, sorry, I have no idea what kind of bird those are, but they're neat looking!

Here's some pics of my ducks enjoying new pools today since we got to 66 degrees.

They found the answer for him on the Texas thread. Egyptian geese. This is from @chickletteSarge post http://www.chron.com/life/article/Non-native-Egyptian-geese-proliferating-in-Texas-2252113.php

your ducks look so happy!

 

[Ren2014]

Ren, Lydia and Ravyn... Thank you so much. It sucks I wish I would t have even seen those beautiful wet ducklings. Hopefully the last 2 hatch tonight. The. I have 10 more set to hatch around the 25-28th. This first small batch hatched in 26 days. Well 4 of the six. Anyway. I love this site ladies!! Oh and btw... Do you all sell your ducklings?? I may add some hens to my clock since I am drake heavy (12 hens 8 drakes) and don't want to give up any!! Lol.

I know it's hard. It also sucks they make it to full growth and die in the shell (DIS) I've not experienced what you have but I have had many DIS

I haven't sold any yet but plan to when I hatch pure breds. I would most definitely add some hens. I get so frustrated with the drakes I can only keep one around or I'm throwing things at him.

Ok, listen I know your just trying to help, but I've had these ducks for 4 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS the smaller drakes get along fine with the bigger drakes, and they have a 60 acre pond and a 6 acre area to live in. I was just wondering if I should get more females I'm not going to seperate them. Thank for your concern though

You've been very fortunate to not have had any problems before. I can't speak about drakes fighting. I've never had that problem when I kept more than one drake but drakes are rapists. SERIOUSLY. No other way to say it better. Here's an article http://www.webvet.com/main/2009/01/09/duck-mating-sex-lives-ducks

 

[sspeirs772]

Jasper and Beau two muscovy ducklings that were abandoned because of curled toes. Got to them too late and now they can't be straightened but they are going to stay inside away from harms way....I have got my hands full I know! Lol

 

[AxolotlLove]

I agree! I don't have any drakes in my flock of 2! Ha Ha! I can't handle the killing! My niece had a few of hers killed by a drake, no thank you!

Well a flock of 2 is not like a flock of 14. My drakes are my little darlings. I love them to bits. They are not livestock they are pets. I could never give them away. I am going to try my hardest to get more ducks but I can't always know I'm getting females. The only place that sales ducks where I love you have to order ahead if time and if u want a certain breed it's even more money and they can't tell the sex. I have 5 Cayuga females that I got from a neighbor recently so that adds more females to my flock but they came with a male. Thank you everyone for your suggestions but drakes are not all that bad. If you treat then like pets and not livestock. My one drake follows me around like a dog and knows how to play tetherball

 

[Phoenix Native]

Hi there, Can someone please recommend a great incubator for Muscovy Duck Eggs please? And any helpful tips for a successful hatching? Thanks so much!!