Getting more ducks

[e2311]

Hi all,

Some of you might have ready my last post - I had two ducks (sisters) whom I got from a home with a lot of other ducks who would not let either of them get any food. Yesterday, I sadly lost one of my ducks to a predator and I feel so terrible for the one that is left. After receiving advice and looking into it I've decided to build a run and get some other ducks for company. I've read that ideally you should keep more than 2 ducks, so I am thinking to get 2 or 3 more.
I'm worried that if the new ones all come from the same place, they may pick on the duck I already have, what do you all think? Any advice? This is my first time keeping ducks so I'm unsure what their behaviour is like when their introduced. And will it matter what breed they are?

 

[Pyxis]

Sorry you lost a duck The first thing to do, before getting more, is to address the predator issue. You will need to make sure you have a totally secure coop and run to prevent it happening again, or the predator is just going to come back and help itself to another duck dinner. Sounds like you're going to building a run to keep them safe so that's a great start.

Getting at least two more is a good idea, just in case you lose another one. Breed doesn't matter too much, they really don't care much about breed.

Introducing ducks can be tricky, or it can go smoothly, it really depends. The easiest way to do it is to allow the ducks to see each other, but not be able to get to each other, for a week or so. Then, you could let them all out for some supervised free range time together and see how that goes, and when that is going well, you could move them all in together.

 

[chickens really]

A chain link Dog Run 10X10 with wire mesh added makes a secure pen. Also get the extra panels for the top.
An extra large Insulated Dog house works great as a house..
As mentioned keep the one Duck in a look no touch pen for a few days. It really doesn't take long for Ducks to become friends. Introduce while you watch them. Normal neck tying and chest bumping will occur.
Breed really does not mater to much with Ducks..

 

[e2311]

Sorry you lost a duck The first thing to do, before getting more, is to address the predator issue. You will need to make sure you have a totally secure coop and run to prevent it happening again, or the predator is just going to come back and help itself to another duck dinner. Sounds like you're going to building a run to keep them safe so that's a great start.

Getting at least two more is a good idea, just in case you lose another one. Breed doesn't matter too much, they really don't care much about breed.

Introducing ducks can be tricky, or it can go smoothly, it really depends. The easiest way to do it is to allow the ducks to see each other, but not be able to get to each other, for a week or so. Then, you could let them all out for some supervised free range time together and see how that goes, and when that is going well, you could move them all in together.

Thank you for your helpful reply! We will introduce them gradually when we get new ones. For now our priority will be building a safe run though, before bringing any more home.

 

[e2311]

A chain link Dog Run 10X10 with wire mesh added makes a secure pen. Also get the extra panels for the top.
An extra large Insulated Dog house works great as a house..
As mentioned keep the one Duck in a look no touch pen for a few days. It really doesn't take long for Ducks to become friends. Introduce while you watch them. Normal neck tying and chest bumping will occur.
Breed really does not mater to much with Ducks..

Thanks very much. We are going to get materials to build a run today. Once we know it's safe we will get her some friends.