http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ Farming Friends Forum Tag: Breeding en Sun, 19 May 2013 02:43:38 +0000 http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=4171#post-22037 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:24:59 +0000 pastrychef 22037@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>thanks, </p> <p>i knew the call ducks are too small, but i figured the khaki girls..a couple of them are bigger. He is a purebred appleyard, so ill take your advice and look for a girl. Thanks for the info thou! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=4171#post-22023 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 06:29:39 +0000 m40mo 22023@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi, well breeding time is normaly spring summer as it's mainly related to the extra day light hours which raises the hormones in both ducks and drakes<br /> As a drake he won't care what breed the girls are but if he is a pure breed Silver Appleyard he would be far to big a drake for your khaki girls and definatly your call ducks, he risks injuring them if he mates them on dry land and could drown them if he mates them on water and of course if you incubate any fertile eggs they would be a cross breed anyway, you would be better spending the winter trying to find a couple of applyard females and putting them together away from your other ducks </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=4171#post-22022 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 01:10:12 +0000 pastrychef 22022@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>or does it all depend on him and her...lol </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=4171#post-22020 Sat, 29 Sep 2012 19:21:34 +0000 pastrychef 22020@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Well, heres my latest question. i figure someone on here knows.ive googled, but cannot seem to get google to know what i want.</p> <p>I have what matured into a beautiful silver appleyard drake.I have 8 khaki campbells (1 drake) and 2 call ducks. when i recieved the appleyard, he was a couple weeks old, and was in(mistakenly iam sure) with chicken eggs ordered a friend hatched.<br /> my khaki campbells.. not the drake...just most not all of the females pick on him. so he lives with my 4 pgymy goats and loves it!<br /> But since he turned into a beautiful drake (i didn't know what breed he was till he feathered out) id love to get babies. silver appleyards are hard to find here...i was wondering if i put him in there now, let them find thier pecking order(but i know hed rather be with the goats..lol) and let him breed...or will he? or put 2 females in with him in the other barn... will he breed them , being khaki campbells?</p> <p>is there a way to know when its "breeding" time? anything to look for? </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-19212 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:19:56 +0000 duskhunter 19212@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Well, the girls all laid later in the morning bar one and I couldn't find her egg from yesterday, I think she laid it in the pond as she just drops it anywhere, or had the previous two days.</p> <p>Were out from lunch time until just before it got dark. Put the ducks to bed straight away when I noticed peaches and cream both had raw necks so the black runner boys are going to have to be separated from them and maybe Donald the new boy who is not as frenzied as the two runner drakes can stay with the girls. He and Mrs Campbell are a definite pair and although he does mate with the others he doesn't present the same problem as the Kray twins!<br /> We are away for a couple of days but when we get back we have our work cut out fencing the boys in. Hope the girls survive meanwhile. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-19201 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:21:37 +0000 Katydid 19201@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Blue bonnets Mo.</p> <p>All the previous advice is good.</p> <p>I would certainly separate any ducks that are being picked on. I have 4 ducks in 'quarantine' at the moment, 3 aren't at all happy about it and want back with the guys and I shall return them today. The 4th is always bullied and I shall keep her separate for the rest of the mating season.</p> <p>We do have a responsibility to our animals and 'nature' aside we have to do what is best for them and allowing continuous bullying isn't right.</p> <p>I hope all gets sorted for Kathleen, but would definately take her runner out of the group. In fact looking at the mix, I would say the runner really isn't big enough to be with the Harlequins at all.<br /> KT </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-19199 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:57:49 +0000 m40mo 19199@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>oh the joys of keeping ducks, as children we all went off to the park to feed them, who would ever have realised how stressful life really was for them especially in the spring and summer<br /> I dont believe there are any set rules on how we care for our ducks just our own judgment based on what breeds we have and what we see happening,<br /> My girls became a bit messey with their egg laying and seeing the rapes that went on in the shed as early as 4am via a camera I split the boys from the girls over night and I now most mornings get every egg layed in the shed some days one girl Toffee hasnt laid but then somedays she doesnt lay until late afternoon anyway</p> <p>this past weekend after seeing all of the girls at some time or another raped not mated, and twice really feared for 2 different girls eyes as one boy pecked at her head while the other boy did the dead and chased so much I feared one could be injured in her attempt to get away I made the desission to make the split permenant for the summer, some people will think thats is WRONG and goes against nature but these arnt wild ducks I went against nature the day I chose to keep ducks as pets,<br /> I am not in a position to have ducklings even if my girls all campbells went against the norm and decided to go broody so see no reason why this should be allowed to continue, so I now have 2 groups of ducks 2 drakes and 6 girls, so far I have seen no upset from either of the groups and no fighting between the boys but guess thats down to the fact none of my little pack became what some may call couples<br /> so far all is calm and im still getting the eggs in the shed, the ducks can see and hear each other but I can honestly say they arnt stressed and infact are quite happy and it was lovely yesterday watching the girls once they realised they could go and enjoy a swim without fear, 2 of my girls wouldnt go any where near the water if boys were about,<br /> its is only a couple of days so even in my garden if changes need to be made again in the coming weeks or months I will again based on what I see happening but for now it is so much better for us all<br /> I kind of like your idea Angela of a neck colar but have to say I think it would cause problems given how ducks twist their necks to reach their preen glad to keep the feathers in good condition x </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-19198 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:26:54 +0000 duskhunter 19198@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Mating season can be frenzied. In 2010 we were given 7 beautiful Indian Runner drakes and a beautiful goose unwanted by the lady we bought hay from for our donkeys. We built them a large pond 38 square meters and they had the run of 2 acres. </p> <p>From October when we aquired them till Spring all went well, but then two of the drakes were being picked on and their necks looked a sorry state. We re-homed the two wounded boys. </p> <p>Then the dog stood on the foot of another and he limped, we assumed he had pulled a muscle and kept him in a cage inside as it was winter until he had recoverd about 3-4 days, but the others wouldn't have him back after his recovery,they really chased him relentlessly and drew blood as though they were going to kill him. We managed to re-home him too. By the way we were out of mating season by then and into the next winter.</p> <p>One duck disappeared without trace we never knew what happened to him but assume it must have been a large bird that took him as the lady we got him from said the buzzards had taken all her females, it remains a mystery, we never found feathers or any other clue about his disappearance.</p> <p>I forgot to mention our first loss, Cyril who died of what appeared to be a pellet wound just under his eye. The vet treated him successfully but he became very tame, used to wait for us to come home by the back door, and the others would not have him mix with them properly. In the cold weather of winter we found him dead with his neck tucked under his wing under some straw in the shed. Broke our hearts as we thought of him ostricised trying to keep warm.</p> <p>We still have two remaining boys Sydney and Spot who seem to be fine together and a newcomer a handsome khaki Campbell drake Donald after Donald Campbell the speed boat champion who died trying to beat the world record. He came with a wife, Mrs Campbell, naturally, and a white duck of dubious parentage but very pretty, she has black spots all over her otherwise yellow beak, we call her freckles.</p> <p>Our two runner boys wouldn't accept Donald and chased him mercilessly. Remebering the troubles of the past I stepped in and chased them, gently, away to another part of the garden. </p> <p>This seems to be working as the new girls are left to Donald, generally, and the two runner drakes are often seen on their own quite apart from the girls sunning themselves. They are quite aware of where 'their' girls lay their eggs though in a nest in the garden not the duck house and they check it and guard it and look worryingly at their wives as though they are saying," Don't you think you should be staying in to look after the children?"</p> <p>A long pre-amble of the history to get to the present day, and last night in particular, about duck behaviour this time of the girls who we aquired to calm the boys.</p> <p>Because the boys are raping the girls, their necks are pretty bald with one of the white runners looking as though blood will be drawn next, we separated all the drakes last night but had no eggs in the morning, normally there are 6. I can only assume none of the ducks were happy as they could hear each other calling. The girls I think didn't feel protected and the boys that the girls would never manage without their protection.</p> <p>The previous night we managed to separate the two runner drakes but Donald was left in with the girls. Strangely, or maybe understandably, Mrs Campbell, Freckles and Peaches and Cream laid with Donald's protection but not our two long standing females that have been with the runner drakes as a foursome for months now.</p> <p>I think I would like to devise some kind of protective neck gear for ducks in mating season and then leave the sexes together as it seems it stresses all of them to separate them.</p> <p>I think perhaps a pair of tights, Olive Oil's, Popeye's girlfriend with the stick legs, should do as a protective sleeve for their necks that would fit closely enough not to be a hazard - would certainly surprise the boys. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2846#post-17844 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:52:22 +0000 campbell ridge 17844@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>if you would care to post some full face photos, I can try and help sex them but if some are louder then they are the females. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2846#post-17839 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:22:57 +0000 libby 17839@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thank you so much. Best advice after hours of reading sites on the web!</p> <p>Libby </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2846#post-17835 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:34:38 +0000 m40mo 17835@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>hello, I had 3 khakis from one week old, ive just gone through some old photos and at 7 weeks old they were just starting to change colour until this time they were identical, as ive mentioned before they ended up being two drakes and one duck, the boys make a very soft quack sound at this age and girls more of a loud grunt, the boys legs began to turn more orange where the girls will stay more body colour, by around 10 weeks old both drakes were practicing their mateing skills on the one girl so I got two more girls the same age to give my first girl a break<br /> they are nearly two years old now and last summer they had to be split into two groups as girls were very unhappy and one in perticular ended up with her neck completely bald by clumsy mating by the drakes, and even though the drakes are brothers they did fight with each other, all 5 have happily spent the winter together and already are showing signs that the need for seperation isnt far off already this coming spring</p> <p>keeping to many drakes to some people isn't a concern but for me personally I feel i have a duty to make sure all my ducks are happy and safe from fighting and over mateing </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2846#post-17834 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:45:01 +0000 dollydylo 17834@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Libby</p> <p>I have never succeeded in working out which duck is male/female until their tail feathers grow more. The drake tail feathers curl round whereas the female feathers are straighter. There is apparently a difference in the noises they make, and hopefully one of the more experienced duck owners on here will be able to help with that.</p> <p>Yes, drakes can get aggressive, but as you have the same breed together that will help reduce any damage to the 'lady' ducks! It is normally best to have just one drake with the number of ducklings you have - they can compete and then possibly hurt any female ducks by becoming aggressive and competitive.</p> <p>good luck! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2846#post-17833 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:37:16 +0000 libby 17833@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I have 5 ducklings aged 6-7weeks and I cannot tell them apart. Some peep, some quack, some a big some small. They are all brown, with lovely patterns on them, no dark heads etc... How can I tell their sex? AND what is a good ratio of male to female? Why is this important, do the drakes get agressive?</p> <p>Thank you!</p> <p>Libby </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-13459 Sun, 08 May 2011 14:13:54 +0000 Lorna 13459@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Kathleen,<br /> I have just [put my big drake Jonathan in at the minute with his 2 big ladies for a while so my oldest ones who are white calls have a wee while outside.<br /> You need to be careful with the runner as they can go off their legs and get run down with too much mating.</p> <p>Best Wishes<br /> Lorna </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-13452 Sun, 08 May 2011 08:32:22 +0000 campbell ridge 13452@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>I agree with both Bill and Sara about seperating her to protect her. She is obviously the "Cinderella" in the group and drakes do behave badly towards their least favourite ducks and repeatedly bully them and forcibly mate with them as their conquests. Drakes are lovely to look at and will guard the group but because you have two drakes, they have to compete with each other, which is done by constantly "raping" the lesser females. I suggest you get rid of one drake and I'm sure things will calm down, or seperate into two groups, which is what I have to do from March - September.<br /> Sarah </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-13447 Sat, 07 May 2011 21:43:04 +0000 Bill 13447@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Kathleen,<br /> I have ducks that had the same problem. The back of the ducks heads were bleeding. This was caused by having too many drakes and the weakest ducks were being mated with all the drakes. I moved the damaged ducks with two of the other ducks into another pen until their heads healed. When they were better I moved her back with the ducks but sold off a few of the drakes. The rest was good for them and they are now fully recovered. Good advice from Sara. Best wishes Bill </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=2006#post-13441 Sat, 07 May 2011 19:04:49 +0000 admin 13441@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>Had this email from</p> <blockquote><p> I have a mix of 6 ducks: 2 Harlequin drakes, 1 Harlequin female, 2 female Khaki Campbells, and 1 female Indian Runner. They have been together for over a year and all got along until recently. Now the males have turned on the Indian Runner. They mate her but also chase her off from the group and bite her. Her head is raw from it. Why would they do this and what should I do? They are not tame although they tolerate us feeding them and putting them up and letting them out to the pond in the morning.<br /> Thanks! Kathleen </p></blockquote> <p>It sounds to me like the Indian runner is the easiest to mate with and probably the lowest in the pecking order. I wonder if she is smaller that all the others, even though she may be taller! I wonder if Kathleen could separate the runner with another female for awhile to give her a break.</p> <p>Let me know what you think.<br /> thanks<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1312#post-10381 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:52:18 +0000 TopVeg 10381@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Deanna<br /> The most important thing is to keep her fit and healthy. Don't let her get too fat, which is easier said than done!<br /> Good luck! TopVeg </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=1312#post-10298 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:33:45 +0000 Deanna 10298@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Does anyone have any suggestions on breeding your gilt for the first time. I have heard many many different times that we should. My main concern is for the gilts. I want them to have a continually strong heat cycle through out their life. Something I've read was to allow the gilt to have her first cycle and then expose her to the boar. Our first gilt will turn a year old in April and am looking ahead so that we can properly prepare her and not rush her growing up.<br /> Thank You!<br /> ~D </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=835#post-8743 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:39:16 +0000 admin 8743@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Megan,<br /> Glad they are doing well and are pairing up. We'd love to hear about your golden pheasant eggs when they hatch. Keep us posted.<br /> Good luck with your quail nesting and laying.<br /> Kind regards<br /> sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=835#post-8731 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:59:49 +0000 Lynne 8731@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>We have 2 females - 1 male and also 4 youngsters 1 is def a male not quite sure about the other 3 yet, i think we are selling these on early next year - problem is getting too attached lol </p> <p>Glad to hear yours have settled down they are beautiful birds</p> <p>Lynne x </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=835#post-8699 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:45:32 +0000 1daytripper 8699@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi<br /> Just thought I'd let you know that I added another female quail into the mix without difficulty. Now there are two male and two female in together. Initially the new female was very timid and didn't mix well with the others, and refused to join their group, browse with them, sit on perches with them etc. This may have been due to her being several months younger than the other birds. After about a month she came around and joined in. Now I am noticing them separating into pairs which matches the wild quail around our home. There are definite signs of the hens having been trying out nesting spots in areas where I've placed screening foliage for them to feel comfortable nesting behind. Hopefully I'll soon be seeing some eggs. At present I've got an Rcom King Suro warming up to place some golden pheasant eggs into. If the quail don't do their business on their own, they may end up getting a helping hand from the incubator. My fingers are crossed for the birds doing all the work for me! </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=920#post-6188 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 13:16:47 +0000 sallie 6188@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jane, I give my quail veg like sweet corn and I just put the whole cob in the run. They love it. As far as courgette, cabbage, lettuce etc, I put the courgettes in cut into half lengthwise but the cabbage etc I just put in whole leaves and they love pecking at them. It also keeps them occupied for longer if they have to work at it. All veg are fed raw.<br /> Hope this helps. I don't see any problem with crossbreed quail, a bit like mongrel dogs they may be tougher than purebreds!<br /> Best wishes<br /> Sallie. </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=920#post-6184 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:52:46 +0000 RPun 6184@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Thank you for your reply Sara, I will put things in for them.<br /> Is it a good idea to incubate the crossed quail eggs? Will the chicks have any problems etc?<br /> When you serve vegetables, like carrot, brocolli etc, can they eat it raw, or does it need to be steamed? Also, do you have to cut it up into beak-sized portions or just chop it into large bits and they will peck at it themselves?</p> <p>Thanks for your help </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=920#post-6163 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:57:42 +0000 admin 6163@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Jane,<br /> Welcome to the farmingfriends forum. Male quail will breed with any sort of female quail so if you collect and incubate their eggs you will get a cross bred quail.</p> <p>Quail can have a tendency to peck at other quail and be aggressive. Do you have other things in the aviary for them to peck at? Such as branches, lettuce or broccoli or cauliflower hanging so that they can peck at this and keep them distracted.<br /> Some quail just peck out of habit but it needs to be discouraged. Sometimes they peck each other if there are mites or lice about.</p> <p>The males may fight its a case of waiting to see what happens. Usually a good ratio is 4 to 6 females to 1 male.</p> <p>Hope this helps.<br /> Kind regards<br /> Sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=920#post-6094 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:40:46 +0000 RPun 6094@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hello, this is my first post...<br /> I have 7 Japanese and 1 Chinese quail in an aviary. They are all about the same age- roughly 16 weeks, and were all put in at the same time. They have been in the aviary for 5-6 months.<br /> The aviary is about 7 ft long by 4 ft wide by 6 ft high.<br /> Initially, I was told they were all female, but it turns out that I have 2 males. Obviously, they are trying to breed, but they are also trying to breed with the chinese quail. Is this possible?<br /> Also, the chinese quail is now chasing the others around and pecking them. Why?<br /> Finally, will the 2 males fight?</p> <p>Sorry for the long post, but I am worried. Thank you for any answers </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=835#post-5396 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:56:15 +0000 admin 5396@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi Megan,<br /> Welcome to the farmingfriends forum. I keep japanese quail with a few Italian quail.<br /> I would definately get another female for the lonely male quail or indeed if your aviary has room I would have say 4-6 females per male.</p> <p>The aviary sounds great with a half covered area and lots of plants for the quail to hide and nest in.</p> <p>If you decide just to get one other female you may need to searate the quail pair from the lone male. The wild male seems to be the most dominant and could try to steal the new female quail for himself. I have noticed that male quail seem to breed with a large number of females and don't particularly pair off like say guinea fowl.</p> <p>Good luck with the quail.<br /> Let us know how you get on.<br /> kind regards<br /> sara @ farmingfriends </p> http://farmingfriends.com/forums/topic.php?id=835#post-5388 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:43:32 +0000 1daytripper 5388@http://farmingfriends.com/forums/ <p>Hi.<br /> Is anyone able to tell me if it is possible to have two pairs of Californian Quail within a single aviary?<br /> A month or so ago I bought a pair of Californian Quail, and they settled into the aviary very nicely. Their calls attracted the wild quail to the house surrounds and things were just lovely. Then my female inside the aviary somehow paired with a wild male on the outside of the avairy! The male who came with her was rejected!<br /> The female would spend all day walking to and fro inside the aviary trying to get close to the wild male who was climbing on the roof, over the hedging, etcetera, back and forth trying to get close to her. Eventually I took pity on the two of them. I opened the outside of the aviary double doors, he walked inside quite happily, I closed the door behind him, and then let him into the interior of the aviary. He and the hen are very happy together.<br /> There was a brief period of chasing between the males when the wild male was introduced but things have settled down now. </p> <p>The rejected domestic male is now standing in the corner on his own.</p> <p>In order of preference I think my options are: a) get the rejected male a new mate and have two pairs in the aviary if they are likely to be able to peacefully co-exist, b) release the rejected male, c) eat the rejected male for dinner, yum yum.</p> <p>Can someone tell me if my 'option a' will work?<br /> Also, what area would be advisable per pair of these birds? My aviary is 4m x4m, half covered, and well planted. </p> <p>Many thanks for reading<br /> Megan </p>