Thinking about getting a drake... again...

[Miss Lydia]

And I was going to recommend a Runner drake... that just flew out the window

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Because my girls need a man NOW! I don‘t know about the rest of you, but things have gotten pretty x-rated around here as breeding season appears to be in full swing. And i feel badly that my three hens are getting no satisfaction, though they are certainly trying to help each other out. A lot.

As always, my concerns are 1) biosecurity - I have had a closed flock for almost two years. I would hate to accidentally introduce disease. 2) I would want a nice smallish drake who would not be a crazy out-of-control rapist. 3) The additional mess (particularly in winter) of an additional duck (or two if I added a hen for better drake/hen ratio).

At any rate, I’m almost sold on getting a drake this year seeing how desperate the girls are. But how do I find a nice one? Is it better to raise a random TSC ducking or two, knowing that at least one will be a drake? Are there breeds that are known to have nicer drakes? I do want a mallard-derived drake, as Daphne is already outnumbered by Muscovies.

I would certainly quarantine him until I know he is healthy.

Anyways, I just want a nice boy for my girls!

I have had two Rouen drakes that have been good to the ladies. My current drake must be a bit hormone deficient. He is fine with the hens but tries to eat my toes. He is a runner/pekin. Lots here swear by runners.

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

So, I have a friend at work whose brother has Cayugas. I’ve asked my friend to ask her brother if he has a drake he’s willing to part with. He did last summer, but I wasn’t ready at that time.


My girls are out of control. I just locked them up for the night, and watched a crazy hormonal battle that ended up with Daphne biting my white Muscovy and shoving her face into the straw because my white Muscovy was aggressively blocking Daphne from accessing her nighttime mealworms (you don’t keep Daphne from her “mealies” ). At that point, my little pied Muscovy decided that her input was needed, so she ran over and chomped her sister, then Daphne, then climbed on top of both, creating a stack of 3 aggressively trilling and quacking hormone-crazed hens. It was quite a sight to see!

At any rate, I separated everyone, and locked the door. I am hoping that a drake would satisfy their hormonal needs while creating some order!

 

[NatJ]

Question - Does it violate a “stay at home“ order if I get a drake on my way home from work if I am essential personnel? Or if I, say, got him on the way back from an essential grocery shopping trip? What if the grocery store was in the next town over?

I just spent some time googling...
Vermont "ADDENDUM 6 TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 01-20"
(that's the one that tells people to stay home)
permits "curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages" (paragraph labeled 1, which is of course not really the first paragraph)

I'm guessing a drake could be considered goods--and if someone argues, then you could insist that he's a meal instead!

So curbside pickup of a drake should be permitted

 

[Daphne_loves_mealworms]

I just spent some time googling...
Vermont "ADDENDUM 6 TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 01-20"
(that's the one that tells people to stay home)
permits "curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages" (paragraph labeled 1, which is of course not really the first paragraph)

I'm guessing a drake could be considered goods--and if someone argues, then you could insist that he's a meal instead!

So curbside pickup of a drake should be permitted

Thank you