[robbiegrant]

Gweetingz
We have 5 Indian Runners. Three girls and two boys we hatched ourselves from eggs.
We don't have a huge amount of space and don't plan to breed them
Only eat their eggs, I know the girls dont need boys to make eggs BUT
before we get rid of both the boys I thought It might be a good idea to ask the forum if there are any reason to keep  a boy at all...?

ducky health reasons?
ducky happiness?

I dunno!?!

Any ideas?

Robbie

[robbiegrant]

The same question was asked of Dr Chris Ashton of the Indian Runner Duck Association and this was her reply

"You are correct in thinking that 2 males are bad news in a group, but one is OK. Generally, the females are happier and more confident  if there is one male around.
Occasionally, even one male can get obsessive over a female, but that is fairly rare. On balance, I'd keep one male. But if they are re-homed as 2 drakes for slug hunting, that might work out easier for you.
best wishes from
Chris"

[HesterF]

Depends what you read, clearly. According to Haynes poultry, no, no benefit to drakes except as father. I can see my cockerel keeps the hens together and heads the flock - with the drake it's not quite as clear but maybe he does keep them happy?

H

[darkbrowneggs]

My girls love their drakes, and each have their favourites spending a lot of time head bobbing in front of them.  Fortunately the drakes are not rapists and one year I kept 2 drakes and one duck which had to be penned throughout the breeding season to keep them safe from predators and the drakes allowed the duck to sit and rear ducklings and were no trouble at all.  The same duck is still with one of the drakes quite firmly bonded with him. 

[robbiegrant]

  The same duck is still with one of the drakes quite firmly bonded with him. 

AAAAhhhhhhhh!!! Cutesys...

[Daisys Mum]

I have 3 male runner drakes and today I saw 2 of them pinning down 1 poor female so I think that I better get rid of a couple 

[robbiegrant]

They are randy little buggers... We have found a good home for the boys slug hunting on a local smallhold.
trouble is the girls are now bobbing there heads like males and trying to pin each other down... they are all laying so they are definitely girls!!! pervert ducks 

[Beeducked]

They are randy little buggers!


Despite having a 1:4 ratio here and each drake having a pretty faithful gang of girls who stay with each of the 2 boys we still have a soap opera of intrigue and infidelity with the drakes sneaking of to cuckold the other. The girls are definitely happier with a drake around and my boys take the job of defending their girls pretty seriously too.

[demonfarmer2630]

thank you   robbie the drakes    are doing fine we have kept them in the garden as they like our attention   they have the run of the garden at the moment will be joining the irda    in the next week and im looking for a couple of girls    for them  hope all is well and have a nice day