Too many males!

[farmer boy]

for the mallard though you will need same size females as him

 

[gysygirl]

I will try and post some piccies but it will not let me do it at the moment I think its our internet connection we are on cornish snail connection, I have just been out to lock them in for the night and try and get them off the pond.... a long net comes in handy

They are terrified of the stick! Little so and so's managed to get past me twice last night when I got them up the ramp to their house before I could shut the door they stampeded back to the pond (all this in the dark of course) Gonna be great fun with 8 of them I have enough trouble from 3! Lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will try and post some piccies but it will not let me do it at the moment I think its our internet connection we are on cornish snail connection, I have just been out to lock them in for the night and try and get them off the pond.... a long net comes in handy

They are terrified of the stick! Little so and so's managed to get past me twice last night when I got them up the ramp to their house before I could shut the door they stampeded back to the pond (all this in the dark of course) Gonna be great fun with 8 of them I have enough trouble from 3! Lol

Start now giving them something really yummy that they only get when they go into their coop. I like to use dried meal worms, they are pricey but not messy. If you don't want to put food an water inside their house then set up a small fenced in area right around their house so you can get them in to the fenced in part then close the gate and give them their treat then herd them the rest of the way inside. If you get them into the habit now they will show the new ones when you get them.

 

[gysygirl]

I will have to try the meal worms, at the moment they get their supper of a bowl of veg/salad 1/2 an hour before they go in (I was giving it them in the house as a treat to go in but they made too much mess), The thing they are really mad on is tomato's i'm just waiting for mine in the conservatory to ripen then they will have fun! They already have a food and water area in their house so that would be easy and not too messy like veg!
Thanks

 

[Miss Lydia]

Found this just now,, https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...o-has-or-has-had-any-please-look#post_9755717

 

[zooweemama]

3-4 gals per guy. I have 11 females and 3 males. If I had even more male or one less female it would be a mess for me. My males are sex addicts. All day every day on the water off the water. I have a few ducks that have some bald spots (no wounds though) on the back of their necks. The Pekin male is especially keen on mating all the ladies as often as he can and he is the by far the roughest. My Buff male woos the ladies first- does the neck bob like he's asking. But my Pekin male hops on and takes what he wants any old time. So I would aim for 3 or 4 and watch them males and females that first year to see if you have enough.

 

[Going Quackers]

3-4 gals per guy. I have 11 females and 3 males. If I had even more male or one less female it would be a mess for me. My males are sex addicts. All day every day on the water off the water. I have a few ducks that have some bald spots (no wounds though) on the back of their necks. The Pekin male is especially keen on mating all the ladies as often as he can and he is the by far the roughest. My Buff male woos the ladies first- does the neck bob like he's asking. But my Pekin male hops on and takes what he wants any old time. So I would aim for 3 or 4 and watch them males and females that first year to see if you have enough.

I would agree with you the personality of the duck matters too. I have a strange situation here where my two main drakes(the others are only turning 4mths this week) have basically paired off. rarely, do they interact mating wise with the other ducks, at night they even house with "their" ducks.

All that said, i don't want the drake fights so my young boys will be removed and create a separate flock, the two males i have already duke it out often enough, and anyone who has had to break up a drake fight of 'scovies knows you don't want to have to deal with that to often.