The Duck Thread

[Amiga]

OMG, this duck mating stuff is killing me. Does it ever stop?? I've separated boys from girls because some of the girls heads were looking frazzled. Now we've got same sex stuff going on both sides of the fence. The drakes seem so cruel but then the girls seem to be little hussies and won't stop flirting with them through the fence. I finally just put everyone back together again

Seriously though, how long does the mating season last?

With only one drake, Bean, I have two flocks till after the Autumn Equinox. Second year running. It's all about how the runners don't want Romy and Bean to hook up. sigh.

 

[Starfire669]

Aww poor Howard, Drakes can be so obnoxious and most people won't put up with it, Maybe if you can get more ducks Ebony can find a couple friends and Howard can still have his girls. 

Drakes are just so hormonal about the only thing we can do is keep close tabs on the girls that one isn't getting too much attention. And ride it out till breeding season is over. 

If I get ducklings, 1 or more might be drakes. Then I have a problem because I can't have multiple drakes here. With planning for 2 Roos and 2 ganders I have no place to separate another drake or drakes. So I'd have to get rid of or butcher some. I highly doubt I can find adult black ducks in my area, I have been looking. So it's ducklings or nothing.

 

[KuroKitsune]

If I get ducklings, 1 or more might be drakes. Then I have a problem because I can't have multiple drakes here. With planning for 2 Roos and 2 ganders I have no place to separate another drake or drakes. So I'd have to get rid of or butcher some. I highly doubt I can find adult black ducks in my area, I have been looking. So it's ducklings or nothing.

hatcher give you the option of having you duckling sexed...like just a couple days ago i emailed Ideal and asked them to add two female cayuga's to my order..and on their site they list male, female, and straight run on all their ducks breeds except the assorted variety's and most of the time you dont get males if you dont want them

 

[Starfire669]

hatcher give you the option of having you duckling sexed...like just a couple days ago i emailed Ideal and asked them to add two female cayuga's to my order..and on their site they list male, female, and straight run on all their ducks breeds except the assorted variety's and most of the time you dont get males if you dont want them

What is the minimum order requirement? I also don't need and can't sustain a large number of ducks. I already have 20 chickens, 8 goslings, and 5 ducks.

 

[aurora14]

Metzers will ship as few as 2 and you can choose male or female. They charge a lot for it, but at least you can get a small number of the breed you want in the sex you want!

 

[Starfire669]

Metzers will ship as few as 2 and you can choose male or female. They charge a lot for it, but at least you can get a small number of the breed you want in the sex you want!

I'll keep that in mind. There is a feed store not too far that does special orders, it costs extra but not as much as Metzers. I can see if their hatchery can supply some female Cayugas. ( I feel stupid for not thinking of them before.) I kept thinking of a guy who I have been buying and trading with, but all he gets is straight runs. Lol. Thanks for giving me a good kick in the rear! I'll call tomorrow and see if they can get Cayuga ducklings!

Ebony will hopefully get some adorable ducklings soon!

 

[aurora14]

That was my next idea lol! Good luck
Now to just convince my husband that ducks are a good idea......

 

[Starfire669]

That was my next idea lol! Good luck
Now to just convince my husband that ducks are a good idea......

Thank you again. And good luck with the hubby. Ducks are fun and cute.

 

[Starfire669]

So I found my 6 chicken sized wooden eggs. I am going to put them in the ducks nest tomorrow morning really early before letting them out to free range. My hope is that when Ebony goes to lay she will see all the eggs and go broody. There is a chance that Daisy will go broody instead, but Ebony seems to spend the most time fluffing the nest. Once she goes broody, and the ducklings arrive, what is the best way to give them to her? Do I do a night swap like you would with a chicken?

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I found my 6 chicken sized wooden eggs. I am going to put them in the ducks nest tomorrow morning really early before letting them out to free range. My hope is that when Ebony goes to lay she will see all the eggs and go broody. There is a chance that Daisy will go broody instead, but Ebony seems to spend the most time fluffing the nest. Once she goes broody, and the ducklings arrive, what is the best way to give them to her? Do I do a night swap like you would with a chicken?

That may work, as long as she has already been sitting a couple to 3 weeks first.