When to introduce drake to ducklings?

[Eggstatic ChickyDoo]

I recently lost half of my pair of ducks to a predator, leaving me with a lone, lonely drake. I looked for adult hen ducks here, at the shelter, and on CL, but didn't find any, so I just got the oldest ducklings I could. They're now about 3 weeks old and I just moved them into the duck house at MILs (the drake has been in my backyard with our dog since the attack). I know it's still much too soon, but when should I start thinking about moving the drake back? I have a brooder/isolation area set up between the ducks and the chickens, so I can start doing see/no touch any time, but it's much smaller than the yard and I'd feel bad leaving him there long term.
We haven't had any big issues with the drake and the dog together, but it's not ideal either. I'd like to have an idea of how much longer I'm going to be doing this and whether or not it's worth investing in alternate solutions to some of the annoyances.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They ducklings need to be 4.5 months old or older at least laying age before a drake mates with them. Best way is to use the see no touch and allowing him to have time with them under your supervision. Some drakes aren't rapists many are.

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Eggstatic ChickyDoo]

Okay, so we're looking at October/November... I don't think I want the drake stealing dogfood and pooping in the doghouse that long. I also don't want my isolation area out of commission that long, and it's too small for him to stay in that long. I'll start looking at how to add on or carve out a drake pen.
Thank you!

 

[Lilbitsnpieces]

I separate my drake from hatchlings for 8 weeks..i just "sew" hardware cloth to cattle panels, that i have cut to more managable sizes..least expensive solution. I then just push them in the ground i the pen as a barrier..

 

[mlynnhughes22]

I recently lost half of my pair of ducks to a predator, leaving me with a lone, lonely drake. I looked for adult hen ducks here, at the shelter, and on CL, but didn't find any, so I just got the oldest ducklings I could. They're now about 3 weeks old and I just moved them into the duck house at MILs (the drake has been in my backyard with our dog since the attack). I know it's still much too soon, but when should I start thinking about moving the drake back? I have a brooder/isolation area set up between the ducks and the chickens, so I can start doing see/no touch any time, but it's much smaller than the yard and I'd feel bad leaving him there long term.
We haven't had any big issues with the drake and the dog together, but it's not ideal either. I'd like to have an idea of how much longer I'm going to be doing this and whether or not it's worth investing in alternate solutions to some of the annoyances.

Hi there! We have a lonely drake from a similar situation. Curious what you decided to do and if it worked. We're torn between searching for a hen for immediate companionship or raising a couple of ducklings.

 

[Eggstatic ChickyDoo]

I ended up dividing the run

Hi there! We have a lonely drake from a similar situation. Curious what you decided to do and if it worked. We're torn between searching for a hen for immediate companionship or raising a couple of ducklings.

We ended up dividing the run by stringing chicken wire on a removable wooden frame across the middle. One of the ducklings had a pretty clearly male voice by about 5-6 weeks old, so he went on the drake's side and they became fast friends. It worked well for a while, until the "Rouens" turned out to be mallards and they started flying over it. By then we could tell that we only had one female so we gave her away and took down the divider.
I plan on getting ducklings again this summer and will use a sturdier version of the same thing.
Good luck with your duck!