Author Topic: I am hoping my babies are drakes (Read 2842 times)

Bionic · « **on:** July 21, 2014, 04:28:59 pm »

I have 2 drakes, an indian runner and a silver appleyard. I lost my 2 silver appleyard females to a fox a couple of months ago.
My 2 drakes get on really well and I have read that, providing there are no females, then drakes living together is no problem. So I am hoping that my 2 babies, now 4.5 weeks old, are drakes also so they can all live in harmony when the time comes for them to join the others.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2014, 05:17:22 pm »

I hope just one of them isn't a duck - gang bang time, poor thing.

NicandChic · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2014, 06:11:31 pm »

Ahh fingers crossed, I'm constantly listening to our 4 one is a boy for sure - no quack just dulcet husky tones

not sure about the others yet!

HesterF · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2014, 01:15:32 am »

Ducks voices tend to break earlier in my experience. So the ones still peeping are more likely drakes with the one making lower noises (even if not an obvious quack) could be a duck. Two and two might be OK depending on the drakes. I've had five ducks with four drakes in one of my breeding pens this year and they've been fine - although one of the drakes was getting on a bit (and has now died) so maybe he was less lustful.

Backinwellies · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2014, 08:06:25 am »

Not a lot of eggs then Sally!

Bionic · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2014, 08:28:56 am »

Quote from: Backinwellies on July 22, 2014, 08:06:25 am

Not a lot of eggs then Sally!

I am never quite sure what to do with the duck eggs anyway so it isn't a problem. People are always trying to get rid of their excess drakes so perhaps I will be a rescue home for them

Womble · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2014, 09:09:42 am »

Bionic - could you PM me your address please? I have three spare drakes here looking for a ~~casserole~~ home. They're runners, so I reckon I could post them down to you in one of those padded bottle bags that the supermarkets sell to take wine home in. One pocket for each of them - perfect!

Bionic · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2014, 09:15:22 am »

Quote from: Womble on July 22, 2014, 09:09:42 am

Bionic - could you PM me your address please? I have three spare drakes here looking for a ~~casserole~~ home. They're runners, so I reckon I could post them down to you in one of those padded bottle bags that the supermarkets sell to take wine home in. One pocket for each of them - perfect!

I think they might be quite flat runners and not doing much running after the post, but for someone closer then it might work, not the post that is but a nice home for the boys they can't keep. Sort of like Barnados for drakes

Backinwellies · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2014, 10:34:27 am »

Duck eggs are great I never use hen eggs (mainly cos some dratted rodent is getting to them first!). Runner and KC eggs aren't much 'stronger' than hen eggs... have huge yolk and are huge eggs............ for sponges duck eggs are a must!