Adding new ducklings of the same age to a different flock

[fawnda]

I have 3 Welsh Harlequin ducklings that hatched a few days ago and I found a lady not far from me who has Cayuga ducklings that also hatched the same time and I'd really like to add a couple to the brooder the Welsh Harlequin ducklings are in. Do I need to keep them separated for any reason if all appear healthy? They should of course be about the same size. If I keep them separated, how long and how should I add them together? I'm mainly worried about each set of ducklings having different types of bacteria and getting the other ones sick. Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd try them together hopefully at the young age they are they should all take to each other. If worried about sickness then keep them in separate brooders till you have had time to observe the new ones and see they are healthy.

 

[fawnda]

I'd try them together hopefully at the young age they are they should all take to each other. If worried about sickness then keep them in separate brooders till you have had time to observe the new ones and see they are healthy.

Ok, thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Let us know how it goes please and of course lots of pics.

 

[fawnda]

So we got the Cayuga babies and added them in with the Welsh Harlequin babies and I was surprised how much bigger the Harlequins were already vs the Cayugas, as they all had the same hatch date. The WH poked and pecked a bit at the newcomers occasionally, but it didn't seem to phase the Cayugas and it wasn't continuous or anything, just like every once in awhile they see one and want to see what it was. New babies eating and drinking and they're sleeping next to the other ones, so that's good. One of the new babies seems a little weaker maybe, not as vigorous as the other one, but it's clearly the smallest of them all. Will snap a few photos, they're stinkin' adorable

 

[Miss Lydia]

If you have some Nutri drench or poultry vitamins you could add some to their drinking water. Look forward to seeing them all.

 

[fawnda]

The less vigorous one in the one off to itself a little bit. Even it's sibling seems to prefer the Welsh Harlequins to it, but they all sleep near each other, from what I've seen so far. Hopefully they'll integrate the little Cayuga as time goes on.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

What a bunch of cuteness

 

[Knighstar679]

The less vigorous one in the one off to itself a little bit. Even it's sibling seems to prefer the Welsh Harlequins to it, but they all sleep near each other, from what I've seen so far. Hopefully they'll integrate the little Cayuga as time goes on.

adorable overload!!

this is the flock i am hoping to put together too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Precious babies