How many ducks per drake?

[my sunwolf]

I've only ever had chickens, and now I'm looking into Rouen ducks... but I don't know ANYTHING about ducks!

The question is: would it be better to have a pair or a trio?

Thanks for any help!

 

[HauiBali]

I have a 1:4 drake/duck ratio and I think it's optimal. A 1:2 is much better than a pair, some drakes have quite a libido and it can be frustrating for a single duck.

 

[my sunwolf]

Ah thank you, that's really helpful! Guess I'll at least go with two ducks for the drake and then expand duck-wise if needed.

 

[tomingreeneco]

I have 3 drakes and 7 ducks. No problems. But they do free range and have a pond to use. So they really are only confined at night.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

we run a 1:4 or 1:6 and it works very well. Anytime there is a drake bloom we will start see feather striping on necks. We have a meat pen built now where the extras go to grow out.

 

[Going Quackers]

I run with a 1:4 here... total of 10, so 2 drakes.. 8 ducks. 5 of these ducks are young, so we'll see how this plays out in spring. I am waffling on the possibility of adding 2 more ducks.

A few weeks ago i had almost all of the drakes from the last summer hatch.. so i had 17 total, 9 being drakes, THAT was crazy and even though the boys were only 5mths it caused way to be many problems, always best to keep the ducks high, drakes low.

As it is my two mature drakes are housed separately at night otherwise they fight, during the day so far they are ok but have a large area, mind you we'll see how that plays out come spring.

 

[Going Quackers]

I have 3 drakes and 7 ducks. No problems. But they do free range and have a pond to use. So they really are only confined at night.

I am surprised that has worked out. I debated keeping one of my young drakes but felt with only 8 ducks, 3 drakes was a risk. Do you separate your drakes at night?

 

[my sunwolf]

I've heard that it differs between breeds, which is why I asked specifically about Rouens. I know that my neighbors have five or six Muscovy drakes who all get along with seven or eight ducks, but that's because one is the big, tough, senior drake, and the others are all young upstarts.

 

[Going Quackers]

I've heard that it differs between breeds, which is why I asked specifically about Rouens. I know that my neighbors have five or six Muscovy drakes who all get along with seven or eight ducks, but that's because one is the big, tough, senior drake, and the others are all young upstarts.

I don't think breed plays a role, a drake is a drake is a drake lol Personality and set-up probably does. 5 or 6 'scovie drakes? i have doubts that will continue that is the only duck breed i own, i had all my young drakes with my main adult boys yes, it was fine for awhile but as they grew and started to sexually mature, it was causing trouble. As i said before it's always best to have more ducks than drakes. My one adult drake is a laid back guy but even he was fed up with the antics of 7 juvenile drakes.

 

[Just Ducky Girl]

Hmmm... Are my ducks odd? I have a VERY mixed crew as far as breeds go, and have 5 drakes, two girls. Nobody fights, no feathers pulled, nothing. They sleep all together in one big pile. They were all raised together, born just days apart. Is this unheard of? Is it because they are young(less than 1 yr) or is it because there are only two girls... and YES I KNOW they are two girls and five drakes before somebody asks...

And if I add more hens will THAT start them fighting? Just wondering also... about to add eight girls.