To Drake or not to Drake?

[RunFun]

Hello, I’m pretty new to poultry care as I only purchased my first chicks & ducklings spring 2022. This spring I have been thinking of adding a single Silver appleyard Drake to the flock. I have 6 girls (all different breeds) already and I would be adding 3 more with him. I do have a mixed Fock of chickens and a rooster that shares the same outdoor space. Everyone gets along well now. My blue Swedish female will even try and spark up something with my rooster . My concerns are that I’ve read Drakes can be very aggressive towards the female ducks and chickens. I would like to eventually have the option to incubate fertile duck eggs in the future, but is the risk low enough that a drake wont throw a wrench in the tranquillity of the flock and turn into being a big mistake. Should I just continue with getting my female ducks from hatcheries? New and confused here any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just know you'll have to have a plan for the drakes you hatch if you hatch out eggs.

 

[CoriM]

I think it's a tough choice. I have an all female flock and have received two males accidentally from the hatchery. I did not end up keeping them, mostly because I had an older female they were targeting and chasing her whenever they had opportunity. I think you need to make sure you have a place to separate groups if need be when adding a drake, because there might be situations where you need to do that. Also know that drakes can try to mate with your chickens and hurt them - their bodies are made differently and they can do damage, so you have to prevent that. And like the other poster said, if you want to hatch out eggs know that you'll be getting even more drakes and you need a plan for how to handle them.

 

[Quatie]

Every drake is different. I have had several drakes that I have had to turn into dinner. But I also have some amazing drakes right now. It really is a toss up on how it will go.

My bad drakes completely stressed out my females. One even stressed out another of my drakes because he was forcefully stealing all his girls. My khaki Campbell drakes had over active sex drives and probably needed like 12 plus females each. I will never take in a khaki Campbell again. They are too high every for me. I had a bad Muscovy drake who picked on one of my girls and wouldn't stop, so he went. My current muscovy drakes will have an occasional fight, but overall really good drakes.

I agree with having a plan for your future drakes. Also, make sure it is not just rehoming them. Drakes are not easy to re-home.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Just know you'll have to have a plan for the drakes you hatch if you hatch out eggs.

My Hen Mallard hatched out 11 ducklings, it was her first batch ever. Nine ended up being Drakes and two were Hens. For some reason I always get way more Drakes than Hens. Good luck if you decide to hatch any out and either rehome before you sex them or have an alternate plan for too many drakes.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My Hen Mallard hatched out 11 ducklings, it was her first batch ever. Nine ended up being Drakes and two were Hens. For some reason I always get way more Drakes than Hens. Good luck if you decide to hatch any out and either rehome before you sex them or have an alternate plan for too many drakes.

Some females lay more male than female eggs. Just like how some men have more daughters than sons