The Duck Thread

[Ravynscroft]

Drake warning label - yah, buddy!

I have one drake, and he has been  bit of a challenge.  

I think my tone can come off judgmental.  I am sure we are all doing the best we know how.  At the same time, because little lives are at stake, I tend to come on strong with warnings about drakes.

So, mea culpa, and I have great respect and admiration for all duck keepers.  

Passion shows deep feelings... would rather see that than indifference...

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Thank you

I wish they would put that out with the cuties at the feed store!

Me too. I am not one for government intervention, but I would love to see a farmer's advocacy group of some kind put together a "Responsible Breeder" certification or some such thing where they have a requirements list and feed stores could opt to get that certification. If one got it, we the people, could show preference to that store or chain giving others the incentive to follow suit.

I just figured there was a lot more text covering that cute little fuzzlet at first...

I agree with all you said, and glad Metzer's does what they can on their end... I am not a hatchery buyer, but I try to watch out for personal experiences with them so I can recommend good ones for people who do...

Of course you aren't a hatchery buyer, you are a cute, quality, call duck breeder.

Hmmmmm, that might be misinterpreted... let me try again... ... you are a breeder of cute, quality call ducks.

 

[drott3]

I have 3 ducks and 1 drake (Muscovites). The Problem were having with the Drake right now is, he wont let the one duck out of the coop. She try's to go out and he nudges her back in. Really don't want to put food and water inside the coop.

 

[AxolotlLove]

I'll seperate them into 2 different flocks thanks and beleive me, I did ask for all females. The order got mixed up though. Thank you all for caring

You've made me and my axolotl Charlie very happy!

 

[Amiga]

Thanks, RavynFallen.

 

[Ren2014]

I'll try my very hardest it get more females. The truth is it's very hard to get some. We are building a pen for out pot bellied pig in spring at can't get any more animals untill after May. Pot bellied pigs are a lot t handle and I'm not sure we can have ducklings in the house with our 6 cats already tempted by the many birds we have. I may be able to adopt a few older ones from lolypop farm but that's about my only option



You've all made me feel like a horrible person for keeping so many drakes with my females. I'm trying the best I can, I have a lot of other animals to take care of but ducks are my favorite and I always try to do what's best

OOOO no, that was not our intent at all

You are a wonderful person for taking the best care of them. I personally didn't know the importance of the male:female ratio until I experience all of the mating madness.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

I'm on my computer and still can't read that fine print...

That's what I am talking about, BYC does make it hard to get to an original picture. You click on it to get to gallery view, then you click on the original button to get the "full" picture and if you are using firefox, you have to click on it again to go from resized view to full sized view. Whew! A lot of work for just one picture...

 

[Ren2014]

For you, I will transcribe...

Warning: This may be a drake
========================
The sex of this cute fuzzy duckling is
unknown and it may grow up to be a
drake. The cooperative extension has
determined that in mixed sex flocks,
having a drakek ratio of greater
than 1:4 may cause overbreading,
aggressive behavior or even death.
This could lead to heart break and/or
a duck dinner. If you are not willing
to take this risk, please consider
purchasing from a source that sexes
their ducklings.

Thank you from all of us. Great job

The only change I would make is something telling a newbie (and the feed store employees as far as that goes, lol) that a drake means boy and duck means girl, lol.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

OOOO no, that was not our intent at all

You are a wonderful person for taking the best care of them. I personally didn't know the importance of the male:female ratio until I experience all of the mating madness.

X2

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Thank you from all of us. Great job

The only change I would make is something telling a newbie (and the feed store employees as far as that goes, lol) that a drake means boy and duck means girl, lol.

They could just have a plywood cutout at the entrance to the fowl section with an arm about 4 ft off the floor:

You must be this knowledgeable to buy this duck...