The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 11:32:06 am

Title: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 11:32:06 am: well we have had our two ducks, mavis and matilda for a few weeks, i was told they were elderly and both females!! :-[ well today i looked out to see matilda on top of mavis doing what can only be described as "full on s**".

questions are,

will they do such things even if they are both females? if not and i have a male and a female how long will it be before she starts laying and hopefully sitting?

i have no experience of duck related baby making activities, any help or advice would be great
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: doganjo on February 11, 2011, 01:55:50 pm: Yes, is the short answer, ducks will start laying from about the end of February - sometimes earlier. If they 'quack' they are female, if they squeak they are male - youngsters are difficult to tell apart, but if these are mature their voices should tell you what sex they are. If you have one of each and want to hatch their eggs be careful as they may be brother and sister, you could get deformed chicks, and ducks are not known for being good parents. Personally, I'd eat the eggs and buy in young females.
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 02:02:23 pm: thanks doganjo

mavis is an indian runner, matilda is an alysebury going to have to change names i think!!!
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: adamhfc on February 11, 2011, 02:53:13 pm: you could always vent esx them i used to do the ducklings at a week old
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: Brucklay on February 11, 2011, 03:25:07 pm: we find our call ducks very good parents!! maybe their odd - Fudge had 13 ducklings, they would hardly fit under her!!
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 03:26:16 pm: oh they are lovely what a cracker picture :wave:
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: doganjo on February 11, 2011, 05:38:07 pm: Quote from: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 02:02:23 pm
thanks doganjo

mavis is an indian runner, matilda is an alysebury going to have to change names i think!!!

OK, have you heard either or both actually quacking - it's quite distinctive, mine get louder when they are angry - if a dog dares to go by their run or I am late with their tea ;D If they both do, then you have need of a drake as one of your girls is dominating the other, doesn't matter which breed, unless you want to breed them. But as I said, I'd be inclined to buy more females if one is a drake, and even if you also buy a drake. I don't know about other breeds but the recommended rate for Khaki Campbells is 10 females to one drake. (they are a very sexy breed!)
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 11, 2011, 06:03:50 pm: my lord the randy little devils, thanks for that will keep an eye on them the alysebury does quack, a propa duck quack, the runner makes a funny sound, i am really taken by them, love watching them, thank you
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: Frieslandfilly on February 11, 2011, 06:32:23 pm: If they are male they should have a little sex feather, it is a small curl just before the tail starts, my ducks go at each other no matter what sex each other is!!
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: little blue on February 11, 2011, 07:17:07 pm: ;D
we've just eaten our randy young cockerel, as he was squashing the baby girls!
what will you call him?
;)
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 12, 2011, 02:13:39 pm: randy roger i think springs to mind, ::)
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: Womble on February 14, 2011, 12:45:29 pm: Quote from: doganjo
I don't know about other breeds but the recommended rate for Khaki Campbells is 10 females to one drake.

Ooops! I'm currently looking for a trio or similar of indian runners. Would that be ok, or would the girls end up exhausted? ;D
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: doganjo on February 14, 2011, 05:19:10 pm: Quote from: Womble on February 14, 2011, 12:45:29 pm
Quote from: doganjo
I don't know about other breeds but the recommended rate for Khaki Campbells is 10 females to one drake.

Ooops! I'm currently looking for a trio or similar of indian runners. Would that be ok, or would the girls end up exhausted? ;D
No idea David, why don't you ask the breeder or look on one of the breed websites. They should be able to tell you the normal rate. Maybe trios are OK in other breeds, it's just that KCs are randy bu99ers
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 14, 2011, 05:22:44 pm: Womble, we have a ratio of 6/1 and it seems fair enough on the girls.

will they do such things even if they are both females?

[/quote]
faith, yes, they do! Not really full on sex but they do seem to establish their pecking order through jumping each other in spring. Not sure what details exactly you observed ;D The springy tailfeather always seemed to be the best indicator for boys if you rather looked away ;D and of course the amount of eggs you get each morning! ;D :&>
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 14, 2011, 05:59:43 pm: hi northfifeduckling

that makes alot of sense, they were both in the pond, and the alyesbury was on top of the indian runner and she!! had hold of the indian runner by the scruff of her neck it lasted about 5 mins then she!! jumped off and they both had a wash, the alyesbury is the boss, but they do get on very well together best of pals, they do everything together.

i am getting the duck bug, i would love some more, they are great.

thanks so much
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 19, 2011, 02:17:20 pm: I just observed the same thing again through the window and it still is utterly weird - I am 100 % sure she is a girl as she lays eggs in the summer! ;D :&>
Title: Re: i was told they were both girls, my ducks!!! are making us blush
Post by: faith0504 on February 19, 2011, 03:17:55 pm: randy bu**ers aint they, ha ha ha ha :wave: