We have an even amount of drakes and hens, as well as 5 female chickens. I understand that we should have less drakes, but they don't fight each other and are doing really well as a group at 6 months old.
If you have 5 drakes to 5 hens that would be why your hen has bald patches. Even if you don't see them mate at 6 months they are definitely mating. Bald patches are the first sign of over mating and your ducks bald patch placement is right where some drakes like to pull.
Sorry, I meant we have 3 drakes, 3 hens and then 5 chickens. I've caught them mating and intervened, but I know they're probably at it when I'm not around. We hatched our ducks back in April and fell in love with everyone. By the time we realised their genders, they all already had names and we were attached to them. I don't know how I could ever give any of them up. Is there anything I can do to prevent over mating?
Either add enough females so each drake has 5-6 minimum or have a separate drake coop/pen. You stopping them while you're there, but them all being together when your gone is only going to create more sexual tension between them. When there are multiple drakes they will often all line up to mate a single female at once. Drakes also will often mate several times a day even with the same females. With 3 drakes that means your females could be being mated 6+ times a day EACH.
I separate my extra drakes into their own pen. It's working well for all.
Oh goodness... We plan on getting some more females once our 2 elderly hens pass. I can't make a new pen for my drakes, but I can separate my current pen and move my boys to one side, would that work? One of my drakes has a really poorly leg, it's been that way since birth, whereas my other 2 are healthy and happy little bubbas. It breaks my heart thinking about giving any of my babies up, so I will try my hardest to get something sorted.
They're all in a pretty large coop, my girlies get on their perches on the right side, whereas my ducks all chill on the left. We had a divider in when the ducks first moved in with my 2 elderly hens to prevent any problems, but honestly all my ducks stay away from my chickens. They don't interract with each other at all, apart from standing next to each other to eat and drink.Hope the drakes aren't in with your chickens.
