What is the fate of your ducks?

[Kathy farms]

Do you have any type of pool for them to mate in? they do a much better job in water. Mine don't seem to have much trouble on land either but having water available for the ducks I feel is important.

I wouldn't consider what is available currently as a pool. Just some small bowls that two can go in at a time. Perhaps I'll get one of the kiddie pool size container for them. They love playing in the mini 'pool' though. And from how many months old do the males start mating?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I wouldn't consider what is available currently as a pool. Just some small bowls that two can go in at a time. Perhaps I'll get one of the kiddie pool size container for them. They love playing in the mini 'pool' though. And from how many months old do the males start mating?

I usually start seeing mating around 5-6 months but eggs usually don't come that first year till the females are more mature around 8-9 months old If I have hatches in say April -May of this year there won't be an egg laid till next year. It's always been that way with my Scovy's

 

[Kathy farms]

I usually start seeing mating around 5-6 months but eggs usually don't come that first year till the females are more mature around 8-9 months old If I have hatches in say April -May of this year there won't be an egg laid till next year. It's always been that way with my Scovy's

l

Oh, that's interesting. Then I guess I should calm down on my expectations on them.
On another note, is mating with different males all influence the offspring? Or one male determines all the eggs that get fertilized?

 

[Miss Lydia]

l

Oh, that's interesting. Then I guess I should calm down on my expectations on them.
On another note, is mating with different males all influence the offspring? Or one male determines all the eggs that get fertilized?

I have 3 young drakes from 4yrs to 2 yrs one is the dominant the 3yr old but the other 2 usually have ample opportunity to mate with the ducks and I have seen ducklings from the 2 oldest not from the one 2yrs because we didn't have ducklings last year but I would say he could dif have off spring if I was to let anyone brood. So may determine your set up too. if your flock is in a closed area not very large instead of free ranging over a larger area then the dominant drake may rule the pen and the less dominant may not get to mate very much. Iam amazed how much property my dominant drake can cover if he thinks one of the other drakes is messing around with one of the ducks but alot of time they are in the pool and he is too late,. lol

 

[Kathy farms]

I have 3 young drakes from 4yrs to 2 yrs  one is the dominant the 3yr old but the other 2 usually have ample opportunity to mate with the ducks and I have seen ducklings from the 2 oldest not from the one 2yrs because we didn't have ducklings last year but I would say he could dif have off spring if I was to let anyone brood. So may determine your set up too. if your flock is in a closed area not very large instead of free ranging over a larger area then the  dominant drake may rule the pen and the less dominant may not get to mate very much. Iam amazed how much property my dominant drake can cover if he thinks one of the other drakes is messing around with one of the ducks but alot of time they are in the pool and he is too late,. lol

That's very interesting behaviour of the dominant male. They have ample space to free range, but they usually hang around the coop all day. Perhaps into the future I'll have to move or rotate one of the males away if I want to have different set of ducklings periodically.

 

[Miss Lydia]

That's very interesting behaviour of the dominant male. They have ample space to free range, but they usually hang around the coop all day. Perhaps into the future I'll have to move or rotate one of the males away if I want to have different set of ducklings periodically.

If you can you could have 1 drake for X amount of ducks usually 3 or more is a good separate into their own area. here mine have half an acre so if one of the drakes is hanging around with a certain group of girls then the other drake can move in on the ones closest to him. I have to keep my 4yrs old drake separate from the other 2 drakes they beat the tar out of him. so he has 2 ducks of his very own. lol I also have an 11 yr old drake who has to be kept separate from the other drakes. It can be a juggling act at times.

 

[Dfwgolden]

Pets they are so funny

 

[Kathy farms]

If you can you could have 1 drake for X amount of ducks usually 3 or more is a good   separate into their own area. here mine have half an acre so if one of the drakes is hanging around with a certain group of girls then the other drake can move in on the ones closest to him. I have to keep my 4yrs old drake separate from the other 2 drakes they beat the tar out of him. so he has 2 ducks of his very own. lol I also have an 11 yr old drake who has to be kept separate from the other drakes. It can be a juggling act at times.

I'll divide the holding are when mating starts so the aggression towards each other will be minimized.

 

[Celtagoats]

Nah, I'm with you, though, its only the males I'm going to cull for meat.  At a certian point males are more harm than good, and I'd rather not torture my egg layers.

My husband says that he's pretty sure that's what I'm going to.end up doing since I love Rouens so much, lol. He's convinced that I'm going to over run him with girls and only process the drakes.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'll divide the holding are when mating starts so the aggression towards each other will be minimized.

Good idea.