Advice needed!!! 3 male ducklings to 1 Female

[4littleducklings]

Hello! almost 5 weeks ago I hatched 4 duck eggs. I voiced sexed them and I for sure have 1 female and the other 3 sound like males. Is it ok to keep them all with only 1 female and 3 males? I’m really attached to them and would be so sad to see one or two of them go but I was hoping for more females! I’m struggling with what’s best to do! And advice would be great! I’ll post a pic of my duckies!

 

[4littleducklings]

I am also adding two Pekin female ducks but I dont think having 3 drakes is the best option with only 3 Females! I don’t know what to do!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

You will need to separate the males and females at some point. You have a few weeks before sexual maturity to get something built to be able to do that. 3drakes on one female will likely injure or kill her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well your right having 3 drakes with even adding 2 more females is going to be rough. They’ll fight and the females will be abused. Like. @Magnolia Ducks Says you’ll have to separate those drakes from the females eventually.

 

[Callender Girl]

Seriously valid concerns. When I acquired my first four runner ducklings -- before my breeder learned to sex the babies -- I ended up with three males and one female.

I had two concerns. First, that the males would fight each other over the girls. Maybe because they grew up together, that didn't happen.

Second, that the single hen would be way over-romanced. By the time I realized Quinn was the only girl, I was able to purchase ONE semi-grown hen to take the pressure off. Strangely, the group seemed to accept Quinn as the leader, and she wasn't overly bred. Paige, on the other hand, was the apple of every drake's eye.

Short of separately housing them or watching every second that they're free, my only course of action was to get more females. Even then, there was frequently bleeding from the backs of their heads.

I hope you find a way to keep your boys. Two years ago, when my breeder accidentally sold me a male duckling in the group, she offered to take Lane back. By then, I didn't want to give him up. So, I applied chicken math to my duck problem -- and bought more girls!

 

[Miss Lydia]

@Callender Girl yours is the best solution!!

 

[4littleducklings]

Well your right having 3 drakes with even adding 2 more females is going to be rough. They’ll fight and the females will be abused. Like. @Magnolia Ducks Says you’ll have to separate those drakes from the females eventually.

Do i have to separate them even if I get more than two females?

 

[4littleducklings]

Seriously valid concerns. When I acquired my first four runner ducklings -- before my breeder learned to sex the babies -- I ended up with three males and one female.

I had two concerns. First, that the males would fight each other over the girls. Maybe because they grew up together, that didn't happen.

Second, that the single hen would be way over-romanced. By the time I realized Quinn was the only girl, I was able to purchase ONE semi-grown hen to take the pressure off. Strangely, the group seemed to accept Quinn as the leader, and she wasn't overly bred. Paige, on the other hand, was the apple of every drake's eye.

Short of separately housing them or watching every second that they're free, my only course of action was to get more females. Even then, there was frequently bleeding from the backs of their heads.

I hope you find a way to keep your boys. Two years ago, when my breeder accidentally sold me a male duckling in the group, she offered to take Lane back. By then, I didn't want to give him up. So, I applied chicken math to my duck problem -- and bought more girls!

I am not opposed to get more females! I love my ducks I just wouldn’t want to separate them! Have any of you had good luck or even tried putting then with chickens?

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Drakes shouldn't be put with chickens, their anatomy is not compatible and the chickens will be harmed. You'll need 3 to 4 ducks for every drake. You will still keep an eye on them because some drakes are ok and some are extremely rapey.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You do not want to put drakes in with chickens. Drakes have a hormones rage for many years and will want to breed anything including chickens which will be a death sentence for a hen. Drakes need at least a minimum of 3 females each.