How to introduce a new duckling to the flock?

[DuckMochi]

Hello there everyone. For those of you that frequent the duck thread you'll know that my Cayuga duck, Mochi, passed away a couple days ago due to a terrible accident. Our other duck, Billy, is now alone by herself with the 5 chickens we own. She is not acting much different.. but I have noticed she's looking for Mochi. Yes I know she is. Because she only ever quacked when Mochi wasn't with her. And she has been quacking and running around looking for something a lot. It's heart breaking to watch honestly and I feel horrible. My dad just mentioned possibly getting another duck. But having 5 chickens.. I don't think we'd be able to introduce a full grown duck to the flock. I don't think they would get along. So we'd get a duckling. Obviously with it getting colder out the duckling will be staying in the house to stay warm at night and we were thinking abut introducing Billy to the duckling first. Billy is not aggressive at all and I know for sure she would not harm the duckling. The ideal thing to do would be giving her a fertilized egg but Billy is not broody nor has she ever been. And I don't want to wait however long that may take. We don't want her to be alone. But we are also first time bird owners, we learn as we go. So I told my dad I would make a post on here asking you guys for help. How would you go about introducing a duckling into a flock? It would be amazing if we could get Billy a new companion.

Also the duckling will either be another mallard (female) or a pekin (female). I don't want to get a cayuga again. It would hurt too much. If there's any other duck breeds you'd recommend let me know.

 

[DuckMochi]

Update: Highly considering getting a pekin duck if we are to get her a friend. I've read lots of great reviews on them and know they are good domestic ducks. Also a pekin would be close to the same size Mochi was and I'm sure Billy would like having a body guard again.

 

[MagpieDucks]

Hello!

I would get 2 more ducks that are the same breed as Billy. What breed is she? Make sure to get 2 more in case you have another accident. Also, don't get ducklings, if you going to introduce them right away. The adults can spread harmful bacteria around that the ducklings immune systems can handle, but the adults can, and can also be viewed as a threat by the adults. I would try and find some adults the same breed as Billy, or raise 2 ducklings and then introduce them when they are larger.

Hope this helps.

 

[DuckMochi]

Billy is a mallard. If we got a duckling we obviously wouldn't just throw it outside with the others. It would live inside with us to make sure it has the heat it needs and the special food etc. I am not worried about Billy and the duckling as much as the chickens. We have a couple chickens that can be pretty mean and one of them right now (a buff orphington) is broody so she's pretty puffy and aggressive. What we'd do is introduce Billy to the duckling more than the chickens. We'd bring Billy in so they could meet each other and also show the duckling to the chickens until it's ok. Also the duckling will not be put outside until after a month or two where we know it's big enough and can keep its body temperature where it needs to be. And we are only getting one duckling... we won't get two. If another accident happens then we won't be getting another. We just have to hope and pray they live a happy and long healthy life.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Hello there everyone. For those of you that frequent the duck thread you'll know that my Cayuga duck, Mochi, passed away a couple days ago due to a terrible accident. Our other duck, Billy, is now alone by herself with the 5 chickens we own. She is not acting much different.. but I have noticed she's looking for Mochi. Yes I know she is. Because she only ever quacked when Mochi wasn't with her. And she has been quacking and running around looking for something a lot. It's heart breaking to watch honestly and I feel horrible. My dad just mentioned possibly getting another duck. But having 5 chickens.. I don't think we'd be able to introduce a full grown duck to the flock. I don't think they would get along. So we'd get a duckling. Obviously with it getting colder out the duckling will be staying in the house to stay warm at night and we were thinking abut introducing Billy to the duckling first. Billy is not aggressive at all and I know for sure she would not harm the duckling. The ideal thing to do would be giving her a fertilized egg but Billy is not broody nor has she ever been. And I don't want to wait however long that may take. We don't want her to be alone. But we are also first time bird owners, we learn as we go. So I told my dad I would make a post on here asking you guys for help. How would you go about introducing a duckling into a flock? It would be amazing if we could get Billy a new companion.

Also the duckling will either be another mallard (female) or a pekin (female). I don't want to get a cayuga again. It would hurt too much. If there's any other duck breeds you'd recommend let me know.

Sorry for your loss
Even though your duck isn't aggressive they can sure surprise you with their attitude when introducing a new member. I would introduce by keeping them side by side in separate enclosures until your duckling is large enough to defend itself a bit. And then maybe supervise their visits a bit first when you think they are ready before leaving them alone together.
Also bear in mind a single duckling will possibly imprint on you and could have a hard time when your ready to put it outside.

 

[DuckMochi]

We will have to keep the duckling inside because it's getting too cold at night and yes, most likely the duckling will imprint on me but we are planning on introducing Billy from the start. Obviously the duckling will be in a cage where Billy cannot get to it other than looking at it and we would do that until we feel we can take the duckling out (probably wouldn't be till it's a bit older). Once Billy is comfortable with it, we'll start introducing it to the chickens from outside their coop. Just so they can see the duckling and watch it. I think eventually they'll be ok with it, especially if we get a Pekin because they get pretty big like how Mochi was. And none of them messed with Mochi.

 

[DuckMochi]

This would be a long process and we would not take any risks with it. I will not take any risks after losing Mochi. I feel like if we take it slow, it will work out. But I don’t want Billy to be alone.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

We will have to keep the duckling inside because it's getting too cold at night and yes, most likely the duckling will imprint on me but we are planning on introducing Billy from the start. Obviously the duckling will be in a cage where Billy cannot get to it other than looking at it and we would do that until we feel we can take the duckling out (probably wouldn't be till it's a bit older). Once Billy is comfortable with it, we'll start introducing it to the chickens from outside their coop. Just so they can see the duckling and watch it. I think eventually they'll be ok with it, especially if we get a Pekin because they get pretty big like how Mochi was. And none of them messed with Mochi.

Sounds like ya got a good plan!

 

[DuckMochi]

My dad mentioned getting an older duck. I am not opposed to that but I am worried because I know that duck is going to be imprinted on something else. Not us and our birds. And if it's imprinted on something else I don't want to take them from that. They might not be as friendly as raising a duckling would.

 

[chickens really]

Hello.....
I have introduced many adult Ducks to my flock and they all get along just fine....Your right though to be concerned about the Chickens though, unless the new Duck comes from a place with Chickens....?.....How ever you decide?...I wish you all the best.....