Duck Introduction

[Gone]

I have a white pekin duck that I keep separate from my chickens because of bullying from the chickens. She is about 2 and 1/2 years old and lonely. I am raising up three French ducks that will look like her but stay smaller. At what age can they go in Stella's pen (white Pekin)? They are about three weeks old now. Will Stella accept them?

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I am raising up three French ducks that will look like her but stay smaller.

Are you talking about White coloured Duclair ducks?

If not, what breed are your ducklings?
(Pictures would be appreciated!)

At what age can they go in Stella's pen (white Pekin)?

Since your duck is a hen and not a drake, you can put them together when your ducklings are big enough - meaning in the second half of their juvenile stage.

But first, you need to let them meet through a fence : your Pekin and your ducklings need to be able to see each others, but not touch each others... as soon as possible, and until you put them together in the same pen!

They are about three weeks old now. Will Stella accept them?

Even though she is a lonely girl... probably NOT.
(You really don't want to take any risk...)

3-weeks-old is really too young to be put together with adult ducks : if your girl decides to bully your ducklings, you might find yourselves with wounded - or even DEAD - ducklings...!!

Wait for the babies to be grown up enough.
Then put them together, and monitor them carefully...

 

[Gone]

Hi.



Are you talking about White coloured Duclair ducks?

If not, what breed are your ducklings?
(Pictures would be appreciated!)



Since your duck is a hen and not a drake, you can put them together when your ducklings are big enough - meaning in the second half of their juvenile stage.

But first, you need to let them meet through a fence : your Pekin and your ducklings need to be able to see each others, but not touch each others... as soon as possible, and until you put them together in the same pen!



Even though she is a lonely girl... probably NOT.
(You really don't want to take any risk...)

3-weeks-old is really too young to be put together with adult ducks : if your girl decides to bully your ducklings, you might find yourselves with wounded - or even DEAD - ducklings...!!

Wait for the babies to be grown up enough.
Then put them together, and monitor them carefully...

Thank you for your response. I wouldn't put them together until I talked to someone with experience like you. Yes, these are white colored Duclair female ducks. When you say to start introducing them to Stella at the second half of their juvenile stage, what age would that be? When I looked these ducks up before picking a breed, they were to be quite a bit smaller than a white pekin. They are growing very fast for being three weeks old. I saw one white pekin duck at the park who paired off with a male mallard duck. Then, when someone put two more white ducks with them, the original white duck left the mallard to hang with the white ducks. That's why I picked this breed to be with Stella.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Thank you for your response.

You are welcome.

When you say to start introducing them to Stella at the second half of their juvenile stage, what age would that be?

(At least) 3-months-old, preferably...

Older and bigger they are, easier it will be for Stella to accept them.

You can try once your ducklings are 2-months-old (if you want), but in this case, you need to monitor them carefully AND still keep them separated from Stella at night - just in case, because even if your girl appears frienly, you can't be certain she won't kill them once you are not watching over them...

They are growing very fast for being three weeks old.

If they are like the actual French Duclair ducks, then it is a breed that grows fast.

At 3-months-old, my (French) Duclair were heavier than my 3-months-old Saxony drakelets!!

I saw one white pekin duck at the park who paired off with a male mallard duck. Then, when someone put two more white ducks with them, the original white duck left the mallard to hang with the white ducks.

"At the park"?
...Are they abandoned ducks?

That's why I picked this breed to be with Stella.

You have chosen a good breed!!

In my experience : in addition to being beautiful ducks, Duclair are really decent layers, and let you approach them even if they have not imprinted on you!