What age do you need to deal with drakes?

[indianaducks]

I bought straight run ducklings over a month ago now. Some have started quacking, some have not yet. Once I know who is male and who is female, if I have too many males, at what age do I need to remove extra drakes?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

There’s not really a specific age. Just whenever they cause problems or whenever you want.

 

[indianaducks]

There’s not really a specific age. Just whenever they cause problems or whenever you want.

So I guess I meant, at what age might they start to cause problems? When are they no longer ducklings and full fledged mating machines that I need to keep an eye on?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

So I guess I meant, at what age might they start to cause problems? When are they no longer ducklings and full fledged mating machines that I need to keep an eye on?

Good question. Probably a couple of months. @DucksAreBest @SolarDuck @KaleIAm

 

[KaleIAm]

Good question. Probably a couple of months. @DucksAreBest @SolarDuck @KaleIAm

Thanks for the tag.

I have noticed that it depends on the season. Now, the males will likely become "mating machines" early, as soon as they become sexually mature. With my duckings that was actually before I could even tell who was male and who was female. They knew.

Where as if you got them in the fall you would likely have until spring.

 

[indianaducks]

Thanks for the tag.

I have noticed that it depends on the season. Now, the males will likely become "mating machines" early, as soon as they become sexually mature. With my duckings that was actually before I could even tell who was male and who was female. They knew.

Where as if you got them in the fall you would likely have until spring.

So I got them at the beginning of February. They are 6.5+ weeks old now. So I should be keeping an eye on things soon?

(I have some younger ones as well so was hoping to wait until I know gender of ALL of them, but if that's not possible I can make do)

 

[KaleIAm]

So I got them at the beginning of February. They are 6.5+ weeks old now. So I should be keeping an eye on things soon?

(I have some younger ones as well so was hoping to wait until I know gender of ALL of them, but if that's not possible I can make do)

Unfortunately, I can't remember my ducklings exact age. I should have written everything down. But I just watched a video of them when the chasing/harrasing just started. They had most of their adult feathers in. Their flight feathers weren't completely grown out, and they still had some baby fuzz.

I hadn't any quacks or tail curls yet, but I believe mine were late quackers.

 

[indianaducks]

Unfortunately, I can't remember my ducklings exact age. I should have written everything down. But I just watched a video of them when the chasing/harrasing just started. They had most of their adult feathers in. Their flight feathers weren't completely grown out, and they still had some baby fuzz.

I hadn't any quacks or tail curls yet, but I believe mine were late quackers.

Thank you! I will keep an eye on them for chasing and harrasing behaviors!