The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: ebony on April 16, 2022, 08:46:50 am
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Hello
Just wondering if anyone could give me some advice as I'm new at this...
I have 2 call ducks - drake and a duck - she is sitting on a nest of eggs which are due to hatch within the next few days.
Question is...
Do I separate the drake from her - or is it safe to keep him in the same run?
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Hi Ya ebony,
Did your ducklings hatch? If so you ll be able to let us know how your drake coped?!!
I was nervous when had my first brood, as had also heard the drake could be jealous.
Hence I kept mum and babies in a 'v' hutch and dad outside. Worked well. Dad was annoyed at lack of access. Then one morning when ducklings were a few days old I got a shock when spied the boldest duckling sitting proudly outside the hutch with equally proud daddy drake! Got through the wires😂
I let them roam together after that although he did chase them around a bit if they were getting too much attention from mum!
In the wild I've observed the drakes sitting a little way off and even the duck leaving them to play a little way off. But she's usually on hand the defend them. So many threats for them, swans, gulls, rooks etc. Heartbraking when the brood gets picked off. Yet I've seen some successful ducks with largish broods of adolescent ducklings this year. They've obviously learnt to be canny.
Hope things go well with your hatches.
Regards
Sarah 😁 🙏🦆