The Quack Shack

[Miss Lydia]

I still have an 8yr old Runner drake having the time of his life 2 of his girls are now in with the Muscovy because he chewed their heads one got infected. My 1 yr old is of course in his prime. It really depends on the drake and this little one that got so chewed up was in the wrong place when it escaped the pen it was in. Some drakes will even kill ducklings so this one was lucky. I've never had one of my drakes injure a duckling but I am very careful not to ever leave them along with the flock without I am with them. Until they are at least 3 weeks old and mama is still with them. Most of the time the drakes are scared of the ducklings.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I still have an 8yr old Runner drake having the time of his life 2 of his girls are now in with the Muscovy because he chewed their heads one got infected. My 1 yr old is of course in his prime. It really depends on the drake and this little one that got so chewed up was in the wrong place when it escaped the pen it was in. Some drakes will even kill ducklings so this one was lucky. I've never had one of my drakes injure a duckling but I am very careful not to ever leave them along with the flock without I am with them. Until they are at least 3 weeks old and mama is still with them. Most of the time the drakes are scared of the ducklings.

I am hoping my new drake will be nice. He is really big though and I am not sure what breed since he was hatched out of a barnyard mixture. He is a Runner for sure, looks black but started out brown as a duckling. He's very tall and beautiful though so I am hoping he will like all of the girls next spring and be nice to them. I don't know if I am just being a dreamer or if there is such a drake out there, lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well, we can't change the fact that duck sex is rough but as long as the girls aren't seriously hurt that is what is important. Both my Runners are healing and looking good but I will most likely keep them separated until molt starts then see how it goes for some reason these 2 girls ages 8 and 5 have been the favorites of this drake when he has 14 more to choose from.

 

[Jenbirdee]

Sounds like Spring will be exciting…
My 2 little boys have to behave if they want to live with their 16 ducky ladies.
Especially since there are also 3 chicken hens here.
I’m already getting their bachelor pen ready.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

[...] Most of the time the drakes are scared of the ducklings.

I have observed that too!
I have seen the meanest of all drakes, Mr. Leroy Brown running away from two tiny ducklings…

… followed by their angry Momma, Tweedledee Duck.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I am hoping my new drake will be nice. He is really big though and I am not sure what breed since he was hatched out of a barnyard mixture. He is a Runner for sure, looks black but started out brown as a duckling. He's very tall and beautiful though so I am hoping he will like all of the girls next spring and be nice to them. I don't know if I am just being a dreamer or if there is such a drake out there, lol.

My two largest drakes: Leroy Brown, standing three feet tall, who got his name because he was really mean in his first 2-3 years has turned into a peace-keeper. He likes when nobody is being chased around, quacking in the duck-yard and breaks up fights.
Mr Boots, my heaviest drake - he looks like a black Peking, who hatched last year is still chasing ducks two or three times a day buty has already started to calm down.
Small, agile Erpelchen (Buff Orpington) on the other hand kept up the corkscrew game for four years and has just calmed down this year.
Heavier drakes become calm faster - my observation. But it all depends on the individual drake.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

I am hoping my new drake will be nice. He is really big though and I am not sure what breed since he was hatched out of a barnyard mixture. He is a Runner for sure, looks black but started out brown as a duckling. He's very tall and beautiful though so I am hoping he will like all of the girls next spring and be nice to them. I don't know if I am just being a dreamer or if there is such a drake out there, lol.

Barnyard surprise ducks often have the hybrid-vigor and are significantly larger than their parents. - And more of a pita in their first mating seasons… But all of my mean, large drakes have released their steam within the first mating seasons and turned into really nice guys. Yes there are nice drakes out there.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Well, we can't change the fact that duck sex is rough but as long as the girls aren't seriously hurt that is what is important. Both my Runners are healing and looking good but I will most likely keep them separated until molt starts then see how it goes for some reason these 2 girls ages 8 and 5 have been the favorites of this drake when he has 14 more to choose from.

Yes, that favorite hen syndrome is the main problem with duck mating! Just ask Blanca and Karen, they have been the favorites for several seasons, but both found their solution in learning how to climb to the second level of the duck house. Somehow the drakes won't go there, with the exception of Mayhem who lives up to his name this season…

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like Spring will be exciting…
My 2 little boys have to behave if they want to live with their 16 ducky ladies.
Especially since there are also 3 chicken hens here.
I’m already getting their bachelor pen ready.

With having 16 ladies for your drakes they may never even look at a chicken hen mine never have they stay busy with their girls.

 

[Canadian Wind]

You sure? - The sad thing about this kind of two legged predator is that they neither need to see their prey nor smell it. They are perfectly able to execute their sinister tasks on rumor and knowledge.

I'm positive. This is the pen from both the property side, and the road side.

As you can see, it's not visible from the road.

I'm still thinking it's probably the fox, even though I couldn't smell it.