Young drake and duck (4 months old)

[KikiDeAnime]

When should I expect Colonel to start trying to mount Duchess?

It's important that I know so that I can keep watch on him and so I can decide when to hatch out ducklings.
I plan on collecting her eggs for us to eat first and then hatch a few babies out later on. I also plan on letting our #1 hen hatch them out along with any baby chicks so that mama hen can keep those babies while I take the ducklings away to sell.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Probably about a month. And probably before eggs. You should wait a couple months after eggs first appear before trying to hatch. You will need an incubator unless you have a broody chicken. Lots of domestic ducks don't go broody. Please watch for over mating as one hen for a drake is not a good ratio.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Also, providing a pool helps with mating.

 

[chickens really]

I begin hatching eggs about a week after my hens start laying as long as I see the Drake breeding.
I know many people that have one Drake and one or two hens without issues.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Probably about a month. And probably before eggs. You should wait a couple months after eggs first appear before trying to hatch. You will need an incubator unless you have a broody chicken. Lots of domestic ducks don't go broody. Please watch for over mating as one hen for a drake is not a good ratio.

I said in my post that we have a chicken who will hatch them out next year. And I also said that I would keep an eye on him which is why I needed to know when he would start trying to mate her

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Also, providing a pool helps with mating.

They do have a pool

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I begin hatching eggs about a week after my hens start laying as long as I see the Drake breeding.
I know many people that have one Drake and one or two hens without issues.

My parents agreed that next year I can get a young female close to laying or already laying to add to the flock.
I would've asked if I could get two but they firmly said 'One only!'

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Runners were mating at 4 months. When she starts bowing to him and head bobbing then it’s gonna happen.

 

[PirateGirl]

If you are having a chicken hen hatch them and you are also giving her chicken eggs to hatch at the same time (if I'm following you correctly) you will want to be sure to give her the duck eggs 7 days before you give her the chicken eggs so that they are all (duck and chicken) due to hatch on the same day. Duck eggs need a whole week longer to incubate.

Hopefully things work out for you and in spring when your duck hen is actively laying and your drake is actively mating her you will have fertile eggs available whenever your chicken hen decides to go broody again!

I used a broody chicken to hatch ducklings, it was a great experience, you're gonna have fun with them.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

If you are having a chicken hen hatch them and you are also giving her chicken eggs to hatch at the same time (if I'm following you correctly) you will want to be sure to give her the duck eggs 7 days before you give her the chicken eggs so that they are all (duck and chicken) due to hatch on the same day. Duck eggs need a whole week longer to incubate.

Hopefully things work out for you and in spring when your duck hen is actively laying and your drake is actively mating her you will have fertile eggs available whenever your chicken hen decides to go broody again!

I used a broody chicken to hatch ducklings, it was a great experience, you're gonna have fun with them.

I've already been reading on how long both hatch but this info is good for anyone who passes by this thread!
Our #1 hen goes broody twice a year. Her first time was last year when she was only a couple months old. She's a Bantam Cochin/Silkie mix. She's actually still raising two chicks right now. Our 5 Polish still act like they need to follow her everywhere even though she already stopped raising them.
And I need to wait until next spring for hatching because I want to make sure our 2 cockerels will be able to breed the hens.