Help! My duck doesn't like my ducklings!

[NewRunnerMama]

Hi all! I just got two WH ducklings two days ago and my duck named Charlie is a black runner. He is a little over a month old and he hates them! Whenever they get near him he bites at them and they are afraid of him and run away. Is there a way I can stop him from biting at them? How do I stop him from being sad that I have a new ducklings? He seems to be a bit jealous and upset that I have new babies.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

Hi all! I just got two WH ducklings two days ago and my duck named Charlie is a black runner. He is a little over a month old and he hates them! Whenever they get near him he bites at them and they are afraid of him and run away. Is there a way I can stop him from biting at them? How do I stop him from being sad that I have a new ducklings? He seems to be a bit jealous and upset that I have new babies.

He's upset about new ducklings, and it should pass very quickly with him being so young. It's really not that he hates them, just that he doesn't know them and possibly considers them a threat. Ducks love being with other ducks once it all shakes out, so you did a great thing by getting him companions.

Is there a way you can separate them so they can see but not touch each other? That helps them with adjustment. I also like to take mine into the yard, newest ducks first, then closely monitor the developments. I like to keep the youngest ones out for a bit so the older ones can see them, the introduce the older one(s). Yes, he will probably still snap at them in the beginning, but a gradual introduction will probably lead him to thinking it would be nice to have some other ducks around to play with.

 

[Amiga]

Please do put in a divider that allows them to see each other but not touch. Then we can avoid tragedy, and give them all a chance to warm up to each other. Giving treats at the same time helps a little.

 

[NewRunnerMama]

Yes, I put the babies in a clear tub so Charlie can be around them. They're only out around him with my supervision. He seems to be taking baby steps because he doesn't bite at them all the time now, just 7/10 times. We gave him a new home as he outgrew his old one and we have his stuffed elephant, so hopefully he'll be a happy boy! Thank you all for the advice, it helps so much!