[coxyMFC]

We bought 2 6 week old ducklings back in the summer, which were apparently sexed. After some additional reading now they are both adults we *think* that we have a boy and a girl. Which we didnt want. Now we dont want rid of them, we are prepared to buy more, but were unsure of how many we'll need (is 2 girls enough for one male?). Also when we bought new chickens we seperated the run and house to stop them fighting and we dont know how best to introduce the new ducks. A friend can get some duck eggs and can give us use of an incubator, but obviously that means raising babies and then introducing them, which we've not done before. In general, we are in a bit of a pickle about what to do next!! can anyone offer any advice?

[Alby]

coxy hi, there is a similar thread on going that may help ?? Im a chook not a duck so good luck

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=48082.0

[matilda duck]

The Ratio is 3:1.   Ducks are far better introduction wise.  In fact there is rarely any pecking order unlike nasty spiteful chickens.   I keep both!!

One to watch is if you introduce young. The drake will attack a young drake!!! It's their instinct, you either have to be very experienced or don't introduce them until you are 100% they are NOT young males.

[Rubellite]

I hartched various sets of eggs this year and so ended up with 3 lots of different age ducklings. Didn't have any problem with integrating them BUT seems out of 6 eggs that hatched into ducklings I only have 1 drake.  Lucky or what??
It's great fun hatching ducklings and they are seriously cute, but you could end up with more drakes and then you'll have to decide what to do with them.
My advice would be to buy a couple more ducks from a good breeder.

[coxyMFC]

excellent advice cheers. after a bit of reading up i am going to get another couple of female ducks. the drake and the duck i have now are approximately 22 weeks old ..... now a question regarding *ahem* ..... said deed *ahem*

do ducks have a season like dogs ? - or a series of months when the males are "active" ?, or is it just permament "readyness" after they hit a certain age ?

i only ask because if i know then i will know whether to buy 2 females. or buy some fertile eggs and hatch myself (if i have time)

thanks

[Foxy]

Ducks get frisky about March time,coinciding when they come into lay.  Drakes if you have too many, can be a real pain and will really harrass the ducks. Drakes can drown ducks with their overactivity, it is not nice seeing 2 or more drakes with one girl...

It is also a little bit harder to introduce other ducks in the spring as the drakes become quite territorial. I have had 2 drakes hanging off my arms cos they thought I was going to have a go with one of their girls.

I had one breeding run with a couple of drakes in, surrounded by elctrified netting, one of drakes was so naughty he would turn his body sideways slip through the gap where the gate was, run as quickly as possible do the deed with the other ducks, before I caught and run back again!