Single duck with chicken flock?

[Courtneydelphia]

So, I had ducks growing up and they were the sweetest pets. I adored them, and they me, and everything was amazing. This winter, I got two as day old ducklings, to add to my flock of 6 chickens. I was so excited! I was excited for duck eggs and duck shenanigans and all things duck! Turned out that instead of getting 2 females, we had one male and one female. Fast forward to now, and honestly - we cannot stand the female. She is the loudest thing I have ever experienced. Mine never made this much noise as a kid! It is obscene! We cannot even open our window and she starts quacking, incessantly, so loudly that people 2 streets over can hear her (And do complain). She wakes our neighbors up at the crack of dawn. She chases anyone that goes outside all around the yard, quacking as loudly as any animal ever. She’s mean to the dogs and bullies the chickens. I do not get rid of pets. Ever. But I cannot keep this animal. She has ruined our outdoor experience - lounging out back and enjoying the flock happenings is no longer possible. Half of my garden is dying because I don’t want to go out there and water. My question is: can I rehome her and just keep the drake? He is so sweet and quiet, he’s good with the kids and dogs and chickens. Would it be wrong to separate them? Would the drake be ok living with a flock of hens would it just break his heart? I ask because I know that rehoming female ducks is way easier than a pair, or a male, and I would hate for someone to take them only to separate and potentially mistreat or butcher him. I’m not particularly attached to him, but he is so quiet and unobtrusive that everyone would be perfectly happy with him around. Advice/thoughts?

 

[sourland]

Do not keep just a drake with a chicken flock. Eventually he will start breeding the chickens and very likely injure them. Drakes have a penis, but roosters do not. Chicken hens reproductive tracts are not designed for the introduction of 'objects'. Doing so can cause prolapses/death to chicken hens.

 

[LT71689]

If the ducks could be kept separate from the chickens I'd say rehome the girl and get another drake or two to be friends with the one you already have.

If the ducks cannot be kept away from the chickens then you should rehome both ducks because a male duck will injure or kill your chickens trying to mate them, even if he seems nice with them now.

Generally no, its not a good idea to keep only one duck of any gender - they're very social animals and need other duck friends. Chickens, guinea, turkeys, et al are okay as temporary buddies when babies are being hatched or when you've got sick/injured birds that cant be with the rest of the flock and need a short-term pal, but they do not replace other ducks in the long-term. Ducks need to be with ducks.

 

[ibarbidahl]

I've kept a single duck with chickens before - but it was a hen. She thought she was a chicken. Went up to roost - but stayed on the floor of the coop. LOL. You probably shouldn't kept a drake with chickens. As previously mentioned their hormones will rev up in spring and he could harm one of your chickens.

Good luck!

 

[gointothebirdsfarm]

I agree...I wouldn't keep just a drake. I have two ( soon to be three today: a drake and two females) and as aggressive as a drake can get I wouldnt have just a drake. Could you find another female to replace your noisy one? Or like someone else suggested, get another drake, but separate them from the chickens?