When do ducks begin to mate?

[evansc3]

I'm a new duck owner. I feel very accomplished just getting them to 3 months old. I'm still not sure that they are of opposite sexes, but I went out the other afternoon and found duck feathers everywhere! I mean it looked like we had a duck feather storm! We don't really have preditors here and they are in a 12x12' welded wire habitat, with a roof. Both of my ducks were swimming happily in the pond. I can only assume that maybe one got frisky. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Bawk Vader]

My ducks are second generation and both them and their parents started trying to breed at about 5 months. The drake feathers were very pronounced on both my drakes by 3 months. Now anytime they hit the water my drake is trying to breed. I have caught him trying to breed with my goose also.