Duck Introduction

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Personally my ducklings are raised with my adult ducks. Sometimes they are hatched and raised by a duck hen. Other times they are placed in a small pen inside the large pen. I usually open this pen by 3 weeks. My adult ducks are fine with ducklings.
If you have enough space that your adult duck doesn't feel threatened by the new comers, you could see how they interact together. (Watch how the ducklings treat the adult as well. I have seen posts where ducklings ganged up on lone adult ducks).

Thank you for your reply. I will keep that in mind with my decision to put my ducklings in with Stella, my white pekin.

 

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Hi.



Seriously... what is wrong with these people?!



This duckling is so lucky to have met you...!!
You saved its life, and gave it a chance to a good, long life...!!

Is it Stella?



My adult Indian Runner ducks are afraid of ducklings... but it could be a breed thing?
Runner ducks are scared of everything, after all...

No, but it was another male white pekin which we had a long time.

 

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Yes, bless you for rescuing her! My Duclairs - just the white ones from metzer - are my friendliest ducks. All my ducks are sweet, but these girls let me love on them and they are so nice to the two little call ducks I recently adopted. My first Duclair came with a couple of runners, and I started to see in my flock that the similar ducks often paired up, so I ordered another Duclair the next spring and they became best friends quickly. Every time I integrate ducklings my grown ducks are terrified of them. It just takes time for everyone to get used to each other. You'll get there, and it's so sweet of you to provide a loving family for this duck!

On the note of duck dumping, if it's a regular problem in your area maybe you can start a public awareness campaign! You could start by visiting the stores the ducklings are sold at and letting them know it's a problem in your area. Perhaps they will change their policy about selling ducklings around Easter. I wrote a document for people considering ducks, due to the duck-dumping problem, and asked my local granges and tractor supply if they wanted to use it to hand out to customers considering ducks. I only heard back from Tractor Supply, and they requested it and said they might use it next year! Some people are just terrible and selfish and some people just don't know that domestic ducks shouldn't be left at ponds and lakes. My family did this a couple times when I was a kid and I am horrified now to think about it - like I lay in bed sometimes and feel awful thinking of how the ducks must have felt. We loved the ducks but I think my parents just didn't know any better. Sad! Anyway, I try to make up for it now!!

That's a good idea as a reminder of the problems of selling chickens and ducks at Easter. People buy them on a whim and then just leave them to fend for themselves.