help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[duckman11032]

hey guys I just bought a pair of mallards, they are younger only a few months old, and I put them outside this morning with my rouen ducks, and they chase the little guys around, I know this is a dominance thing and pecking order how long does it take for them to figure it out and quit hurting my little mallards???

help please


mike

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

Is it just the male rouens that are chasing the mallards around? If it is then it's never going to stop, the rouen drakes are trying to mate with the mallards. I would advise to seperate them if you can.

 

[duckman11032]

nope its the hen rouen also....... im thinking they will get over it...... I hope

 

[ShadyGlade]

Can you make an enclosure with in the main enclosure? Its good to introduce the youngsters to the main flock before you actually put them together. I raise about a hundred ducks a year and when they graduate from brooder to outside they are in an adjacent enclosure with a calf hutch for shelter (heat lamp in hutch). That way everyone has seen and fence fought and gotten over most annoyances before I introduce the newbies to the main yard. Something like that might take it down a notch for you. Good luck.

 

[duckman11032]

ok cool thanks

 

[ShadyGlade]

I also temporarily add an extra couple of feeders when I bring a new group into the main pen (after a week or so you shouldn't need it any more) but it keeps them from guarding the food from the newbies. And I always add my newbies at feeding time because most of my ducks at least would rather eat than fight.