Adult Duck behavior towards new ducklings!!?

[MichikoSaur]

Ok so I have about a week old pekin ducklings and we have moved them to a dog crate because they are veryy messy and cardboard absorbs water and it started to stink. But anyways we have them just outside of our door and we were worried the older ducks Woupd scare them, and what I'm asking now is what would be considered aggressive behavior for the male duck towards the ducklings? Because we let them out this morning and he heard the ducklings and he came running towards the cage I scared him off. But I let him come back cuz I wanted to see how he acted with the ducklings. (they're still in the crate) but at first he approached them and he'd peek in through the holes circling the crate non stop. then he'd leave, to go swim drink whatever then come back peek in quack a little then started to just sit beside of infront of the cage. What would that mean?

 

[Calea]

I would NOT leave the babies unattended with him or any other of the adult ducks or even any older ducklings. They can be very aggressive and kill the little ones.

 

[MichikoSaur]

yes, we know that. and we don't. But when can we let them out? Thayer can't stay indoors or locked up forever.

 

[rainy day ducks]

I have had a drake exhibit similar behavior towards new ducklings. He will do this to protect and keep others from his females. I divide up the duck house with a hardware cloth gate. When the ducklings reach 2 weeks of age, I will keep them in the duck house so the other adults get used to them. At four weeks, I intermix them in day time pens. They establish a pecking order and will try to show these ducklings they are top duck. You will need to determine what is pecking order and what is aggressive. At seven or eight weeks, they share the house. I have had much success with this method. The older ducks will feel threatened and the pecking order will need to be reestablished. I always make sure that the drake to duck ratio is at least four. If he has four ducks that are laying age, in my experience he will adjust easier to the new ducklings. The new ducklings will learn to stay out of the way of the adults. The adults will want their space away from the ducklings.

Hope this helps.

 

[MichikoSaur]

yess, very much, thank you