Complicated Intro-duck-tions...

[johnsonfarm]

A while back I posted about my spinning, possibly blind, Ancona duckling. Well, all the vitamins in the world didn't help and it looks like "Dizzy" is just plain blind. Her eyes aren't cloudy but you can tell they didn't develop right... otherwise she's healthy and doing great. We kept her along with one other duckling.
They're 9 weeks old now and I'd like to introduce them to our older 3. I've been keeping them in a separate pen where the older ones can see them when they free range. I know Dizzy will likely need to be kept penned up at all times, unless we're watching. One of our older hens is broody, so that is a complication as well.
Any suggestions on how to incorporate them into the flock? Should I wait a while longer? The drake has been fairly aggressive toward them through the fence, trying to bite.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do not put them together until the drake ignores them through the fence.

If the broody is not hatching anything you could try letting them all mingle together WITHOUT the drake. Supervise and see what happens.

Once all the ladies accept the new ducks in a week (or however long it takes) you can try adding the drake back into the mix.

 

[Texag87]

I like the title of this thread

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quite catchy.

 

[johnsonfarm]

Thanks. So far the duckling that can see has been accepted by the older ducks, but they beat on the blind one
Dizzy spins when she's trying to get her bearings, or is excited, and inevitably bumps into one of the others which makes them mad (except for her sibling who's used to it) and obviously she doesnt pick up on visual social cues.
I feel like it's not going to work to get them all together. The other poor duckling seems torn, wanting to be with the flock but still being attached to Dizzy. So during the day that one free ranges, but it goes back to the pen with Dizzy at night.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like that is your best option. Dizzy being different from the others means she’ll probably never be accepted and having her in a secure pens keeps her safe but I think just for her well being I’d keep the other duckling with her. They really need that companionship.

 

[johnsonfarm]

I decided to try one last thing today. Previously I had the older ducks free range and put the young ones in their (older duck's) pen so they could get used to seeing them in there, then when I'd let the older ones in, the ganging up on Dizzy would start.

Today I put the older ones in the ducklings pen. I sat outside to watch, decided not to interfere unless it got serious. There's been some tussling and feather pulling off and on, but anytime Dizzy really starts getting picked on, her sibling (which the kids named "Feathers") jumps in and defends her. It's been an hour and so far so good, grazing and preening with the occasional spat, no one seems particularly upset or injured. If it continues to be ok, and maybe even gets better, how many days should I do this before putting them all to sleep together in the main coop?

I still dont know the gender of either duckling. Going on 12 weeks old and molting.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Are either quacking when you pick them up? Ducks quack loud drakes sound like frog with a head cold. I’d give them to the end of the week before letting them be together all night unless you have a camera set up so you can get out there if it’s gets too rowdy with dizzy.

 

[Mama_Owl_3]

Following for the useful info, younger and older duck introductions.

 

[johnsonfarm]

Well, I fully intended to give it till the end of the week to try a sleepover, but tonight the kids let Feathers out with the older ones and they all went to bed together. I didn't want Dizzy to be alone so I put her in there too and stood nearby to listen. There was a little thumping but it settled down very quickly... hoping all is well in the morning!

After spending 5 hours all together yesterday and 10 hours today there was only a little bit of picking on Dizzy when she'd bump into someone, otherwise they left her alone. No feathers missing.

And I'm pretty sure Dizzy is a duck and Feathers is a drake by their voices. No curly tail yet though.