Different ages/sizes in same brooder?

[Critter721]

So I had planned to start out with just 3 ducklings. However, 2 of them died due to shipping stress so then I only had 1 lonely baby left. We managed to find some friends for her, but one is significantly bigger than the others. They get along famously, so I'm not worried about them. Actually, the smallest one (Saxony from the original order) is the leader and always on top of the duck pile (see pic).

When I lost my first duckling last week, I originally told the hatchery that I would take a replacement. Then I lost the second one, and I changed my mind. It was just too stressful to wait for them all week and then end up losing them. Well, they didn't see my second email in time before they shipped the replacements. So my second order is here this morning (a day early, woohoo!). I will definitely keep the new ones in a separate brooder initially, but the problem is I only have one heat plate. When do you think it would be safe to put them all together? There's probably about 4 weeks difference between oldest and youngest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d give them a few days to recover from shipping and get their legs under them good then try and put them with the older ones. I had 2 week olds and had newly hatched in the same brooder with a piece of hardware wire for a separation so the new ones had a day to recover those 2 week old had no trouble accepting the littles into their fold I was using a heat lamp though so it was way for them to share the same heat. You’ll just have to watch an make sure the tiny ones don’t get trampled on.

 

[Critter721]

Thanks for your response, Miss Lydia. I have the hardware cloth divider in, but the two new ones want so badly to join the others. I caved and put them in just for a few minutes this morning. They're definitely not ready to be together full time yet. One of the Anconas in particular was singling out and picking on the tiny Cayuga. How long does the bullying usually go on for?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Maybe a week just try and get them together at least once a day then keep them separated other wise. In a weeks time your littles will be able to tolerate the older ones better so just keep at it.