- Apr 28, 2014
- 149
- 15
- 88
Hello all, just looking for advice about when how to turn my two flocks into one. I have some 4 month Anconas and some month old Magpies.
Right now they are kept in a coop that is divided by a fence at night, and in adjoining runs during the day... Or more accurately, the big ducks free range and the duckling run is in the middle of that area. We let them out to forage together when we can supervise, and have been gradually increasing that time.
For the most part they do fine together. There are little disagreements when the big ducks feel that the babies have infringed on their territory. There are also times when the drakes just try to peck at the babies, but we always yell and they stop right away.
At what age would it be OK to integrate the two groups full time? I know having new ducks introduced upsets the pecking order, and I'm sure we'll have some tussles until it's all sorted out. But right now there's such a size difference that I'm afraid a drake could hurt one of the more courageous babies when she's just standing up for herself. Thoughts? Recommendations?
Right now they are kept in a coop that is divided by a fence at night, and in adjoining runs during the day... Or more accurately, the big ducks free range and the duckling run is in the middle of that area. We let them out to forage together when we can supervise, and have been gradually increasing that time.
For the most part they do fine together. There are little disagreements when the big ducks feel that the babies have infringed on their territory. There are also times when the drakes just try to peck at the babies, but we always yell and they stop right away.
At what age would it be OK to integrate the two groups full time? I know having new ducks introduced upsets the pecking order, and I'm sure we'll have some tussles until it's all sorted out. But right now there's such a size difference that I'm afraid a drake could hurt one of the more courageous babies when she's just standing up for herself. Thoughts? Recommendations?