A hard decision

[DucksOhio]

could use some advice.

3 years ago, I took on 6 ducks my neighbor bought on Craigslist. 4 drakes, 2 ducks. I raised 4 khaki girls 2 years ago, but unfortunately 2 of them have passed, one to a wasp sting, one to reproductive issues.

The older ducks, of which I still have are 2 runners, one khaki drake. The older ducks have always been kinda cruel to the younger girls, who are actually quite sweet.

Since the younger girls are so close, I think if something happened to one of them, the other would be devastated.

I am thinking about getting more khaki ducklings this spring. My hope is that this would provide more friends for the 2 younger khaki girls.

Would this be true? Or would the slightly older khaki girls be hostile to the younger ducks.

Please share your experience with this...thanks!

 

[Jpat]

no way of knowing but ive had a few come and go and theyve all fell inlove with eachother

Some people are not so lucky

 

[HuskerHens18]

Keep ducklings separated until they are nearly full grown. My adult ducks are very sweet to people, but horribly aggressive at the ducklings! I had to wait until they were mostly feathered before being able to safely introduce them together. Now they're happy friends

 

[Kessel23]

Even when they are near full size and fully feathered I have had problems mixing them, drakes can be disgusting, be careful.

 

[chickens really]

Hello. You will have to keep them separated during pen time but can supervise free range time when they are around 3 weeks old. Just keep the Drake penned up.
My Duck Hens have friends they prefer to be with. Sometimes they argue although it's nothing really.

 

[CayugaJana]

My observation is that the drakes decide who is the have and have nots. You could get new ducklings and if the drake decides he likes them, your two girls might still be alone. If I put my drake in jail, all the females get along perfectly.