[nettelein]

Hello there after a long time. My 5 Aylesbury ducklings (hatched beginning of April)are no longer ducklings, but 5 lovely and very happy ducks. They are well settled in the back garden where they roam free during the day until I put them into their pen for the night, well safe and secure after the loss of my last ducks to a fox. They are very tame and get very excited when I join them in the garden, wandering by my feet.
I had of course hoped to be lucky enough to have one drake and four ducks, however ... as luck has it, I think it's the other way round. One duck has the destinctive loud female quack, while the other four I am pretty sure are drakes, much quieter a bit as though they are loosing their voice from a sore throat. Now that of course needs to be sorted, I could get rid of the duck and keep the drakes , but ideally I would like to keep a drake and the duck...............so, anyone out there interested in 3 happy drakes, or even better swap them for another duck..............(I guess drakes all have the same destination... I daren't say it..............
Any advice once again much appreciated

[jaykay]

Everyone always has too many drakes. Realistically you need to put them in the freezer. Not easy I know.

[benkt]

You might get lucky: Our Aylesburys are all destined for the freezer so in principle I wouldn't mind swapping drakes for ducks as they aren't going to get old enough for it to matter! Either that or find someone to show you how its done yourself as if you're going to hatch you always have this problem. But you don't say where you are...

[nettelein]

I'm in Salisbury, Wiltshire.............I couldn't bare to do it myself, nor could my hubby or son...........
I doubt I would be able to cook and eat them even if someone would do the deed, sad, I know.........
I would give them away thinking they'ld simply go to a good home

[Fowlman]

I would check they are drakes before you make a decision, not that i doubt you but you never know. Any curled tail feathers ?

[nettelein]

It's too early to go via the curly tail, which doesn't grow until they are about 20 weeks old as far as I know.
The female started quacking about 2 weeks ago and the quack is very different from the other 4, a lot louder and a proper quack, while the others are very quiet, like I said, as if they lost their voice. I have noticed that they started going for the female when bathing in their water tray, typical grabbing the back of the neck and chasing her, hence me thinking it's time to make a decision.

[Fowlman]

Ye sorry just noticed april hatchings. 


I'm also in wiltshire and if i had more females i would have taken the drakes off you.

[nettelein]

thanks Fowlman, fingers crossed I might find a good home for them.

[NickiWilliams]

Nettelein, we might just have a solution for you - we're moving from Melton to the Peak District at the end of June and looking to increase our ducks. To take on that many drakes, all in one go, we'd need to get more ladies in place - otherwise our current 5 girls would be ravaged! Can you hold on until July? They would be pets only (still struggling with the pet vs plate slaughter debate) much loved and well cared for and by then we'd have a great dew well for them to splash about in.  What thinks you? 

[nettelein]

Thanks NickiWilliams thats great news. Unless I get other offers I will hold on to them as long as possible, depending on how they behave towards the duck. Would be so nice to know they would go to live a long and happy life, they are such lovely ducks. Your place sounds just perfect......
Though I must say, Melton is some way away, so is the Peak District. I live in Salisbury, Wiltshire

[NickiWilliams]

Nettelein, that sounds like a plan! Appreciate that it is a few weeks away and you may get other offers, but we would give them a forever home, the rest is just geography - which is easily solved!! Not sure how to message on here so please send me your contact details [email protected] and we can go from there :-) Thank you kindest regards. Nicki x