When do I worry about drakes?

[Jenjenners]

So my babies (aka the Quarantine Quackers, lol) are 16 and 14 weeks now. Two drakes and 3 females, which I know are too many drakes, but I am keeping a very close eye. The drakes are from the original group of broodmates, and so far everyone gets along fine. They’ve started to mate, the Pekin drake (Eugene) and the gray runner (Tina) from the original 3 seem to have paired up, and she is willing to mate but will chase him off when she’s not in the mood. (She is quite the loud quacky diva of the bunch and takes no nonsense!). Looks like the Swedish girl (Sonia) is crushing hard on the mallard/Rouen drake (Fred—he’s just so gorgeous!) and they seem like they’re becoming a pair as she matures. My poor tan runner girlie (Ming-Ming) just kind of follows everyone around like a lost puppy, think she was picked on at their original place, but everyone loves her here and there’s absolutely no evidence of bullying, she’s just kind of...lost all the time and a bit ‘slow’.

I realize this blissful utopia may not last...at what age do you think they might get more territorial and bossy and, er...rapey? Soon? Not yet? Just want to prepare for the worst if I do need to separate them at all.

 

[sourland]

I have had instances where mallard derived breeds developed strong pair bonds, and given enough room, the drakes behaved themselves. In my experience the greatest drake problems develop when drakes start fighting over and gang breeding hens. Keep an eye on them, have a 'Plan B' in mind, and good luck.

 

[Hucklekree]

My original four ducks are 20 weeks and they are three males and 1 female. The two Pekins are pair bonded and the two Cayuga drakes follow around like body guards for the royal family. I do have the bachelor pad ready to go should things go south. But so far they all get along.

I am anticipating a very different situation next spring.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

anyway you can make two coops? to avoid fighting, you can just put your drakes together in one coop and the girls in another. no girls, means the drakes are besties

 

[Jenjenners]

@Hucklekree you bring up a good point—I live in Hawaii so we won’t really get a ‘spring’—do any of you in warm climates with very little climate change between seasons still have seasonal breeding periods? Or is it more year round?

 

[Jenjenners]

anyway you can make two coops? to avoid fighting, you can just put your drakes together in one coop and the girls in another. no girls, means the drakes are besties

I certainly can...but want to leave them together if they’re not fighting, they all love each other so much and are quite bonded as a flock right now. Will do that as a plan b as soon as I see any evidence of it going south! But what age does it usually start to get bad?

 

[RainbowHen]

@Hucklekree you bring up a good point—I live in Hawaii so we won’t really get a ‘spring’—do any of you in warm climates with very little climate change between seasons still have seasonal breeding periods? Or is it more year round?

Interested in the response. Never thought of this. Wisconsinite here.

 

[Jenjenners]

My original four ducks are 20 weeks and they are three males and 1 female. The two Pekins are pair bonded and the two Cayuga drakes follow around like body guards for the royal family. I do have the bachelor pad ready to go should things go south. But so far they all get along.

I am anticipating a very different situation next spring.

That is so cute, the royal guards, lol. Hope they continue to get along!

 

[sourland]

@Hucklekree you bring up a good point—I live in Hawaii so we won’t really get a ‘spring’—do any of you in warm climates with very little climate change between seasons still have seasonal breeding periods? Or is it more year round?

Daylight period would affect breeding activity. Longer day light period actually can increase testosterone levels and breeding activity in fowl. Temperature has far less impact.

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

I certainly can...but want to leave them together if they’re not fighting, they all love each other so much and are quite bonded as a flock right now. Will do that as a plan b as soon as I see any evidence of it going south! But what age does it usually start to get bad?

depends on the individual drake, i’ve had boys not start mating until the next spring. but i’ve also had boys start mating at 9 weeks