I have 10 chickens and 2 ducks, all females. We are supposed to be getting 2 more females ducks and 1 drake. They were hatched in April of this year, the same as my existing birds. Since they are older and I don't know much about how they were raised (except that they were raised in a trailer park and can no longer be there) I know I need to quarantine them but I'm not sure exactly what I have to do. Is it okay if we put up a temporary pen right against our existing pen so everyone can get used to each other through the fence, or is that a bad idea to let them be that close? What are some warning signs of sickness to look for in the new ducks? And I'm a bit worried about the drake (a runner duck) going after my chickens. He might not since he'll have four females of his own species, but if he does try to get friendly with my hens (if you know what I mean) will he harm them?? And do you think the new ducks will adjust okay to living with chickens? My ducks now are fine with them since they were all raised together, I just don't know how well the newbies will like them. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions!!
As hardy as domestic ducks are you shouldn't have to worry about quarantining them that much unless they already show signs of illness. In which case you will want to pen them up AWAY from your existing pen. Proper quarantine is different for everyone but is usually one month unless they show signs of illness which is then one month from the day they are over the illness. But if you want to, if they show no signs of illness, have good health and vigor, and are eating properly, you could probably put them in with the others at 2 weeks. But it is completely up to you.
