Help!!

[AnDrEw&Cole]

I'm gettin 2 day old baby rF/W runner ducks tommorow iv'e got there place set up i just wanted to know how old will they need to be befor i can set them in the big pen with the other ducks and chickens without them picking on them??

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15,chickens, 2 mallard ducks, 2 White pekin ducks, 1 Black Swedish duck, 2 chow dogs, 1 Teacup chihauhau

 

[gofasterstripe]

when they are more or less fully grown...about 12 to 16 weeks

 

[Alicia G]

Well in my personal experience, putting a new duck straight in does not end well. When your ducklings hit around 6 weeks of age I would put them in a pen or cage beside the ducks and chickens, make sure they can see each other, so they can get used to one another, then I would say around three or so months old they are old enough to go in with the adults, but make sure you keep an eye on them, because the adults may not be too forgiving to new comers.

 

[AnDrEw&Cole]

Ohh thanks there pekins so i wouldn't think they would be too mean but i'll try that !!

 

[dumb_cluck]

You must research before doing!

You cannot put small babies with adults! They have already declared their "cliques".

The babies WILL be picked on and even killed!

I have noticed several posts by you. Have you read the replies, or just trying to justify what you have already done?

 

[AnDrEw&Cole]

I haven't asked how old they will have to be befor they can go in in the big pen yet ....

 

[dumb_cluck]

Doesn't matter, once ducks have their clique established, others are shunned. End of story.

 

[AnDrEw&Cole]

OK first of all i don't what a clique is and if you don't like me asking question DON"T REPLY (end of story)

 

[FenDruadin]

You should eventually be able to integrate the newbies into your flock, but not until they are fully grown. I agree with a previous poster who suggested, around 6-8 weeks, putting them in an adjacent enclosure so the two flocks can see each other but not hurt each other.

They do tend to like to stick with their own "cliques" (a clique is just an exclusive group that doesn't socialize with outsiders), but you can get past that by a variety of measures. It just takes more work than if you raise them together.

You sound like you're probably pretty young and maybe jumped into this rather quickly. I've done it too (when younger, lol--I've since learned everyone's happier if I do my research first

), and I don't think that means you'll be a bad owner. However, now it's time to man up and do the research, starting here and also investing in a good book. I highly recommend Dave Holderread's book, called "Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks."

Please continue asking questions--it's the easiest way to learn. A lot of folks here put a lot of time and energy into their birds and feelings run high when we think someone doesn't care enough about their birds. I think that's what is being reacted to here. If you spend some time Googling (a good basic article to start with is here ), checking your library, and reading books about raising ducks you'll be able to ask the types of questions that don't set off alarms with the experienced folk here.

Good luck. I hope everything goes beautifully. Spend lots of time with those babies and offer them lots of treats, and you should have lovey-dovey babies before long.

 

[AnDrEw&Cole]

Thankyou !! i will read that book