Do I get Pickles a friend?

[Miss Lydia]

How precious
It's amazing the size difference.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

How precious
It's amazing the size difference.

Two and half weeks must be like two and a half human years. Any ideas how long I should keep them separated?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Try them together you'll be right there to separate if need be. If Pickles starts picking on Noodle then wait and try again and again until Pickels accepts him.

 

[Jenbirdee]

View attachment 3570891
Pickles finally has a friend. I picked up another Hookbill duckling in St.Louis this morning. Meet Noodles. Noodles is only one week old where Pickles is now 3 1/2 weeks and a giant by comparison. They are in a 75 gallon aquarium with window screening between them.View attachment 3570889 They already seem very happy with each other. My only issue, I am pretty sure they are both boys. But, the kind breeder also gave me 5 duckbill hatching eggs. So, I will keep trying.
View attachment 3570890

Totes adorbs!! I did the same thing once with a window screen I had a couple ducklings that were couple weeks older than a couple other ducklings. It worked out great once they started laying down next to each other at the screen then I took the screen out.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

They are already laying next to each other and poking at each other but I am going to wait until at least tomorrow because the little one is eating Mazuri and Pickles, Purina duck. I already started giving each a little of the other but I don’t want upset tummies. Y’all don’t think the size difference is an issue?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well only trying them together will tell. Hopefully Pickles will be so happy to have a buddy he will accept Noodles right off. I’d let them down on the floor together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So did Pickles and Noodles get any one on one time today?

 

[cheezenkwackers]

So did Pickles and Noodles get any one on one time today?

They did outside of the cage. I take Pickles outside for 15-30 minutes of run around and swim time 3-4 times a day. Both this morning and this afternoon we did it together. It went ok. The new little one, Noodles, isn’t afraid of Pickles but is rightfully careful. Pickles has nipped Noodles a few times especially when both were resting on my lap. He acts a little jealous, like “this is my mom, go on”. I will keep at it until hopefully they like each other. Thanks for checking on us!

 

[Luv Ducks]

View attachment 3570891
Pickles finally has a friend. I picked up another Hookbill duckling in St.Louis this morning. Meet Noodles. Noodles is only one week old where Pickles is now 3 1/2 weeks and a giant by comparison. They are in a 75 gallon aquarium with window screening between them.View attachment 3570889 They already seem very happy with each other. My only issue, I am pretty sure they are both boys. But, the kind breeder also gave me 5 duckbill hatching eggs. So, I will keep trying.
View attachment 3570890

I am with you on that. They do look like drakes. I wish Mallards were that easy to tell but the shape of their heads look drakey to me. Hopefully we are both wrong.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I am with you on that. They do look like drakes. I wish Mallards were that easy to tell but the shape of their heads look drakey to me. Hopefully we are both wrong.

Thanks, I wish. I vent-sexed Pickles and was pretty sure I was seeing that he was a male. He now has the soft, hoarse, whisper boy voice. Noodles’ parents were a chocolate drake and a dusky hen, so he is sex-linked, black = male, brown = girl. So, unless Pickles miraculously starts quacking tomorrow, two drakes. It’s ok though. The breeder offered to trade with me if my genders were off I just have to drive 5 hours back to St. Louis. Or, I have a friend who also wants Hookbills. So, they can be friends for now.