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Integrating house duck with outside flock

Doodleloo

In the Brooder
Mar 20, 2022
16
5
36
Hey y'all 👋 I've got two female Muscovies and two Rhode island red hens, and today we were given a 6 month old Muscovy female who was raised and lived indoors her whole life 😳 she prefers humans to birds!
So we haven't had her long at all, but she's of course being bullied right off the bat. Especially the dang chickens 🫣 I totally get that they have to establish their pecking order and I plan on allowing it to happen over time safely.
The new duck just runs away when she's being picked on and doesn't put up any fight. My Muscovies tried to do the head bob greeting thing and she didn't do it back and seemed to be like WTF are you doing? But every time I come in the pen she does it to me 😂 I love it.
My plan is to have her sleep in a kennel inside tonight and have her come into our enclosed coop and run with the other ducks during the day (I'll kick the chickens out! They free range our yard anyway) And do this daily until she's integrated with the other ducks. Once that happens and she has some friends to help her out, I will try to reintroduce the chickens.
Basically I'm here to ask, is that a good plan? If she isn't putting up a fight with the pecking order madness will it end soon?? This poor baby is going through some major life stressors and I just want to make it as easy as possible for her. I welcome any and all advice!!!
 
Poor thing. I find even Muscovy in general when they integrate they are more shy and cautious. It is just in their nature in a new environment. They are very smart and learn really fast though.

I would also let her sleep outside in a dog crate with everyone else. She will be kept safe but be able to see everyone at night and get use to them in closed quarters.

It is just going to take time for her to feel comfortable in her new situation. I would do the method where they can see each other but can't interact.
 

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