Integration issues... Help?

Rdillenbeck

In the Brooder
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Hello all, I am currently have intergration issues with my Cayuga ducks. I have 3 older ducks about 6months old, and 3 ducklings about 11weeks old. My older guys are two laying females, and a male; and 3 female ducklings (supposedly no sex feathers yet but all seem female so far). My females all get along/tolerate each other, they free range together without any problems, I even put the 3 babies in with my two adult girls overnight in the coop last night for the first time and all was well. BUT any time my male is around the littles he 'fights' them, biting and pulling out chest feathers even when I continue to push him away asserting my dominance. He will walk away for mere minutes till he's back bullying the babies. Unfortunately for him I have resorted to seperating him and letting the girls mingle, and switching him out half way through the day while putting the little in the closed in run. My male still tries to bicker with them through fencing I'm not sure what to do to help. Any advice welcome. I really want to get them all together in the coop for winter. Right now I have a makeshift coop set up in my barn for either the babies or male to spend the night in. Ugh! Help?
 
You seem to be doing the right thing. Keep that going.
The younger ones can indeed feel more stronger when they are a group with the other women; and in the meantime they still grow and get bigger and stronger. Introducing them slowly like you do now is the best option. After that period he might still be pecking them to "keep them in line" but they will be bigger and more self-secure to not be so scared of his nonsense and peck him back once in a while ;)
 
I would house all the gals together..little and big..since they are doing good, at a good age for introducing into same pen and it needs to happen for winter...then..watch him as you are..giving him ‘timeouts’. Once he does better he could go in the pen but not until...and to be honest..with my little ones now..if they were being...ummm..mated,etc. I would not have a problem keeping one drake in a pen in y barn..until he learned manors
 

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