How to get ducks to like each other?

[awyman]

I have 11 ducks. There are 7 larger ones and 4 smaller ones. All of them are outside and are free range all the time. They all eat and sleep together. But the 7 larger ducks seem a little more aggressive towards the 4 smaller ones. They will just run up to them and try to bite them. It’s never harmful to them, as they don’t bite them hard. The big ducks just act more dominant. Any tips on how to get them to be friends? They are on 2-3 acres of land so it’s not like they can’t get away from them. But naturally they all like to stick together. So I’d like them to get along okay.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How long have they been together and what ages?

 

[awyman]

How long have they been together and what ages?

They’ve been together for about 2 weeks. The bigger ones are like 2 months and the smaller ones are a month.

 

[chickens really]

They’ve been together for about 2 weeks. The bigger ones are like 2 months and the smaller ones are a month.

I'm pretty sure you have some Drakes and that's the bossiness your seeing. Pictures?

 

[PirateGirl]

Two weeks is an extremely short time for integration. When my big ducks met the younger ducks at only 2 weeks of integration they still needed to have a fence between them or the big ducks would have killed the small ducks.

Integration takes time.

Fast forward a year later and they all live, eat, sleep, swim together daily. No major drama. A bit of feather damage from mating, but no fighting or aggression to speak of.

Just make sure they all have access to food and water, which might mean multiple setups so no one is preventing anyone else from eating/drinking. Also make sure they have different places to hide or hang out when they want to get away from each other.

 

[AquaDuck]

2 weeks aren't very long. They're like two "clicks" of teenagers occupying the same space. At 2-3 months they can be quite aggressive towards each other, trying to find their place in the world. If they eat and sleep together, they're doing great!

 

[chickens really]

Two weeks is an extremely short time for integration. When my big ducks met the younger ducks at only 2 weeks of integration they still needed to have a fence between them or the big ducks would have killed the small ducks.

Integration takes time.

Fast forward a year later and they all live, eat, sleep, swim together daily. No major drama. A bit of feather damage from mating, but no fighting or aggression to speak of.

Just make sure they all have access to food and water, which might mean multiple setups so no one is preventing anyone else from eating/drinking. Also make sure they have different places to hide or hang out when they want to get away from each other.

I must have strange Birds...I have 5 week olds out with yearling Hens and everyday they get along. My Ducklings chase the two Hens..

 

[PirateGirl]

I must have strange Birds...I have 5 week olds out with yearling Hens and everyday they get along. My Ducklings chase the two Hens..

I think mine was worse than normal... but the longer they are together the better they should get along and bond to each other.

 

[chickens really]

I think mine was worse than normal... but the longer they are together the better they should get along and bond to each other.

Two days together and no aggression. Definitely not sleeping together yet.