Flock Cohesion

[CMo]

Hello everyone! I have enjoyed all of the advice I have received on this site and have a question I have not seen posted before. We have two one-year- old ducks, a male and a female, and three four-month-old female ducks. We have been keeping the older ones separate from the younger ones but do occasionally let them run around in the yard. The male tries to mate with the younger girls but we are waiting until 5 months to let them be together. Our younger ducks are seeing the older ducks go out onto the water and we would like to let them all go together soon. Should we wait for them to be an established group before we let them all out on the lake or should we see if that cohesiveness happens when they are all in the lake together? There are three rather aggressive male mallards on the lake and we would like for our one male to protect the three younger females like he does with the older female. Are we doing this right? Should they be a "flock" before they hit the water together? Our fear is that the three little girls have to fend for themselves because they aren't a flock yet. We do think it's best to wait until they are 5 months old to hit the water. We had read on this site that at 5 months they should be mostly fully-developed. For reference sake, the male is a Swedish, the older female is a Pekin, two of the younger females are Welsh Harlequins and the last female is a Buff.
Thanks so much!
Photo of our male, Tabby.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello everyone! I have enjoyed all of the advice I have received on this site and have a question I have not seen posted before. We have two one-year- old ducks, a male and a female, and three four-month-old female ducks. We have been keeping the older ones separate from the younger ones but do occasionally let them run around in the yard. The male tries to mate with the younger girls but we are waiting until 5 months to let them be together. Our younger ducks are seeing the older ducks go out onto the water and we would like to let them all go together soon. Should we wait for them to be an established group before we let them all out on the lake or should we see if that cohesiveness happens when they are all in the lake together? There are three rather aggressive male mallards on the lake and we would like for our one male to protect the three younger females like he does with the older female. Are we doing this right? Should they be a "flock" before they hit the water together? Our fear is that the three little girls have to fend for themselves because they aren't a flock yet. We do think it's best to wait until they are 5 months old to hit the water. We had read on this site that at 5 months they should be mostly fully-developed. For reference sake, the male is a Swedish, the older female is a Pekin, two of the younger females are Welsh Harlequins and the last female is a Buff.
Thanks so much!
Photo of our male, Tabby.

I'd let them become a flock first your right the young ones will be on their own. And until close to laying age the drake shouldn't mate with the young ones. More than one drake can drown a female so If me I would not let my females be on a lake with more than 1 drake. If these drakes migrate, you might want to wait until they are gone before letting them on the lake. I don't think your drake is going to do much protecting.
Welcome to BYC

 

[Jenbirdee]

Probably the reason there are only three male mallards and no females with them out on the lake is because they all already accidentally killed their females that used to be with them. Anytime there is more than one Drake with a female It’s hard for her to survive them. I have two drakes ( and 19 females) and I have separated my flock into two separate flocks now. Each Drake has his own ladies, and they are never all together.
I agree with miss Lydia. Welcome to BYC!

 

[cheezenkwackers]

All wise advice. One extra idea, you might want to let your young ones spend some time with just your older female. That way, she gets used to them when she isn’t trying to make sure they aren’t stealing her man. Just a thought.