Can I mix ducks of different ages?

[TracyLovesDucks]

When I put mine together finally, the big ducks were mean to the little ones for a few days and then the pecking order got sorted out and everyone calmed down. Make sure to keep a close eye on them when you do put them together, though, and make sure no one is getting seriously hurt. I would also put out multiple water and food dishes in case the older ducks try to keep them from eating or drinking. I hope everything will go smoothly for you!

Hopefully someone else will add on to this ;_; I'm very new to duck keeping and don't have much experience to pull from.

Thank you Tapioca, this is all good advice!

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Well today was the day. I joined my four 4-month olds with my four 5-week olds. It was pretty rocky. The little ones were forced to keep away from the big ones. They got chased away from the pools, water and food (I made sure to put out multiple feeding and watering stations). And sometimes chased for no good reason. They pretty much had to sneak in swims, drinks, and meals throughout the day before being chased and charged at by the big ones.

I just put them all away for the night. I was planning on keeping them together through the night. But the big ones started charging the littles again and going for their little necks. I watched for quite a while, I even mounted a couple of the big ones after they charged the little ones... but I kind of regret doing that because it didn't stop them and now I don't know if it had a negative effect on them. So I'm not going to interfere anymore. Anyways, after observing I decided to put their fence up. It just seemed too dangerous since the little ones couldn't get away in this enclosed area (where as they could in their yard today when being chased and attacked). The big ones were basically chasing the littles into the wall where they couldn't escape very well and trying to bite their heads and necks (pretty much cornering them and attacking). And I felt like they all needed to get some good rest after such a stressful day.

The older ones are even being more aggressive towards each other... biting each others' beaks. What the heck, I was really hoping things would go smoothly since I gave them a slow introduction with barriers and what not. Any advice?

So far, my plan is to put them out together tomorrow again, and try keeping them together tomorrow night when I put them away. Should I just tough it out with them? Am I making it worse in any way? What would you do?

 

[subhanalah]

Could you try to integrate them after they've gone to sleep? You would have to wake up early to make sure when they wake up everything is okay. I put my chick's in a fenced in area inside the older bird coop, this seems to work well for me.

 

[AlohaDuck]

Well today was the day. I joined my four 4-month olds with my four 5-week olds. It was pretty rocky. The little ones were forced to keep away from the big ones. They got chased away from the pools, water and food (I made sure to put out multiple feeding and watering stations). And sometimes chased for no good reason. They pretty much had to sneak in swims, drinks, and meals throughout the day before being chased and charged at by the big ones.

I just put them all away for the night. I was planning on keeping them together through the night. But the big ones started charging the littles again and going for their little necks. I watched for quite a while, I even mounted a couple of the big ones after they charged the little ones... but I kind of regret doing that because it didn't stop them and now I don't know if it had a negative effect on them. So I'm not going to interfere anymore. Anyways, after observing I decided to put their fence up. It just seemed too dangerous since the little ones couldn't get away in this enclosed area (where as they could in their yard today when being chased and attacked). The big ones were basically chasing the littles into the wall where they couldn't escape very well and trying to bite their heads and necks (pretty much cornering them and attacking). And I felt like they all needed to get some good rest after such a stressful day.

The older ones are even being more aggressive towards each other... biting each others' beaks. What the heck, I was really hoping things would go smoothly since I gave them a slow introduction with barriers and what not. Any advice?

So far, my plan is to put them out together tomorrow again, and try keeping them together tomorrow night when I put them away. Should I just tough it out with them? Am I making it worse in any way? What would you do?

 

[LucyArredondo]

Wow! I've never heard of mounting a duck as a reprimand. That's really great to know. I'm gonna have to remember this when I get ready to integrate my flock in the future. Thanks for the great advice!
I also loved your " half doodoobutt" comment

made me chuckle

 

[Doctor Pammie]

My husband and I have 3 three week old Muscovy ducklings. Tomorrow we're going to visit a man who has some babies, some two weeks old and some 5 weeks old. We were wondering about mixing ages. I have found this thread VERY helpful as these are our first ducks. We like the ones we have enough that we decided we want 3 or 4 more. Thank you for all the good advice!

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Hi Pammie, I don't have experience with muscovies, but still wanted to share a few thoughts, It sounds like they are all young enough and close enough in age that they would probably be accepting of one another. Especially if the ones you are looking at have already been living together with mixed ages (if the 2-week-olds and 5-week-olds have been in close proximity). Even more so if muscovies are as loving and peaceful as I've heard.

Again, I don't have enough experience, but those are just my thoughts.

If you have any concerns, try to get the scovies that are closest to yours in size. For my rambunctious runners, the older ones really started relaxing and laying off the younger ones once they saw eye to eye (and I mean that literally

). Good luck! Would love to see pics!

 

[Going Quackers]

My husband and I have 3 three week old Muscovy ducklings. Tomorrow we're going to visit a man who has some babies, some two weeks old and some 5 weeks old. We were wondering about mixing ages. I have found this thread VERY helpful as these are our first ducks. We like the ones we have enough that we decided we want 3 or 4 more. Thank you for all the good advice!

2wk olds should be okay.. 5wks? -maybe- but as i alway put it.. hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Older ducks will always pick on the littles, it's just a matter of how far will it go, sometimes it's tempered sometimes it's not.

Also one must ensure food/water is accessible by all. I have ages of all sorts right now in my scovie flock and they free range but again, i am always watching.. good luck!

 

[Tapioca]

When you put them together, make sure to provide multiple food and water dishes. My ducks tried to keep the younger ones from accessing the dishes when I combined my flocks. Also, make sure to monitor what's going on. My older ducks would really get rough with the young ones, to the point that I had to remove the younger ones until they were about the same size as the older ones. I had the young ones in a smaller pen that was attached to my garden where the older ones roamed, so they were always within sight and sound of each other. I think that helped when I finally permanently combined the flocks. Good luck and I hope it's easy for you and your ducks :3