- Aug 28, 2014
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This week I would like to talk Drake 101. We all know ducks are absolutely delightful birds, but the males can be a bit of handful. Ducks owners, please tell me about your experiences and management practices when it comes to your drakes
- Sexual maturity and aggression.
- Human aggression and its meaning.
- Feeding and handling of young Drakes.
- What would be the ideal female to male ratio for a happy flock?
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I've kept several breeds and both of the usual species. Muscovies tend to be less rapacious, but are seasonally active (and very aggressive with each other in springtime). Muscovies are bigger and have gnarly claws, and they also fly and perch... so those claws and wings mean business when it comes to aggressive birds. Mallard-derived drakes are typically rapacious jerks, but I've never had to break up any fights with them. Muscovies tend to reach sexual maturity later, but as is typical for a lot of animals, the guys feel their oats sooner than the girls start laying.
I've never kept a human-aggressive drake, but I have kept a few that would nip me if provoked (being handled, especially when the bird was injured). I deal with shy or aggressive birds in the same ways, regardless of species. If it's shy, give it treats and don't chase it. If it's aggressive, football it or make it dinner.
Drakes can and certainly have injured girls--mature ducks or otherwise--and I've heard of some that crossed species to rape (and thus kill or severely injure) chicken hens. They can drown immature girls--even in shallow water. I've seen one duck partially blinded because of a drake trying to grab her head to mate her.
Ideal ratios depend entirely on the individual drake--just like with roosters. A friend had one Pekin drake with 70 ducks and still had 100% fertility. Some guys are happy with four or fewer ladies. In general, the more, the merrier when it comes to ducks vs drakes.