Help with baby ducks

[whiteangel]

I have 4 baby ducks about 4 weeks old now. When can I put them in with the males? I think they killed the last hatchlings so I separated them to be safe.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I have 4 baby ducks about 4 weeks old now. When can I put them in with the males? I think they killed the last hatchlings so I separated them to be safe.

Is their mom with them? Drakes can be very aggressive toward ducklings, so you want to do a gradual, very closely-monitored introduction. A drake with a long bill, meaning pretty much any of them but Call drakes, can reach out and snap a duckling's neck before you even know what happened. They'll also sometimes grab a duckling by the head and shake it like a dog shakes a toy, and this can also break their neck. Then there's the pecking at them, holding them down and stomping on them, etc.

Can you tell us what breed they are? There's a good possibility you won't be able to have them together full-time until the ducklings are grown and can fight back when it's necessary.

 

[whiteangel]

Is their mom with them? Drakes can be very aggressive toward ducklings, so you want to do a gradual, very closely-monitored introduction. A drake with a long bill, meaning pretty much any of them but Call drakes, can reach out and snap a duckling's neck before you even know what happened. They'll also sometimes grab a duckling by the head and shake it like a dog shakes a toy, and this can also break their neck. Then there's the pecking at them, holding them down and stomping on them, etc.

Can you tell us what breed they are? There's a good possibility you won't be able to have them together full-time until the ducklings are grown and can fight back when it's necessary.

 

[whiteangel]

I don't know what kind they are. I don't know much about ducks. I do know they are the fathers. How many weeks old is old enough?

 

[whiteangel]

I don't know what kind they are. I don't know much about ducks. I do know they are the fathers. How many weeks old is old enough?

 

[whiteangel]

Yes their mom is with them.

 

[JadeComputerGal]

I don't know what kind they are. I don't know much about ducks. I do know they are the fathers. How many weeks old is old enough?

The drakes don't care that the babies belong to them. Drakes are very "webs-off" when it comes to childcare.

Can you post some pics of the the parents and the ducklings?

 

[Orca5094]

When they are full grown (as big as the adults) is when you can start to slowly introduce them to the males. They should be housed next to each other so they can see each other and get used to each other for awhile first. Then you can try short supervised times out with the males and see how it goes. Ducks have to establish the hierarchy when new ducks are introduced, so it doesn't usually go smoothly. There will be some chasing and biting maybe, but as long as it's not extreme and no one gets hurt or stressed/scared and hides in a corner, they should work things out eventually. It takes a long time sometimes, but just be sure you wait until they are old enough to handle being in with them. Around 3 months old I would say.

 

[whiteangel]

When they are full grown (as big as the adults) is when you can start to slowly introduce them to the males. They should be housed next to each other so they can see each other and get used to each other for awhile first. Then you can try short supervised times out with the males and see how it goes. Ducks have to establish the hierarchy when new ducks are introduced, so it doesn't usually go smoothly. There will be some chasing and biting maybe, but as long as it's not extreme and no one gets hurt or stressed/scared and hides in a corner, they should work things out eventually. It takes a long time sometimes, but just be sure you wait until they are old enough to handle being in with them. Around 3 months old I would say. 

 

[whiteangel]

I will post some pics in a few minutes. Thank you!